According to Indeed, the average Python programmer’s salary is $107,000 a year in the United States. But before you start making that money, you need to start learning Python. Between Python courses, programming exercises, and projects, you’ll need to explore the Python language on your own.
We’re going to give you 11 important tips for learning Python.
Contents
- We’re going to give you 11 important tips for learning Python.
- 1. Don’t expect to memorize everything at once.
- 2. Create a small project that you want to complete.
- 3. Track your progress in Github.
- 4. Work on open-source projects.
- 5. Use the right IDE.
- 6. Avoid just copying and pasting code.
- 7. Try to practice your programming every day.
- 8. Join a coding group.
- 9. Ask questions online.
- 10. Learn from multiple sources.
- 11. Don’t beat your head against the wall.
1. Don’t expect to memorize everything at once.
Even advanced programmers need to use Google. It’s more important that you understand the structure and concepts behind Python. If you know that a function exists, you can look it up — and even look up its syntax and how it works. But you need to know that the function exists. Take the time to read about all the things that you can do in Python, the data management systems in Python, and the overall structure of the language.
2. Create a small project that you want to complete.
Python is great for everything. Python can be used for data analysis, web development, mobile apps, and more. One of the best ways to learn is to create a project and develop it from start to finish. This will introduce you to problems you might not run into academically. Fun projects could include a mobile game, a web app, or even just a simple resume.
3. Track your progress in Github.
When you start trying to find a job as a programmer, the first thing people are going to look at is your Git commits. Put your programming projects (even your early ones) in Github and get used to committing your source code. You’ll be able to see your progress, too; this will keep you motivated.
4. Work on open-source projects.
While you’re on Github, take a look at the open-source Python projects there. Open-source projects are a great way to learn. Load up an open-source calculator app, for instance, and you can see how another Python programmer tackled the problem. Python is a language with a lot of time and history behind it, so there’s a code snippet for nearly everything you can think of.
5. Use the right IDE.
You can theoretically program Python in a notepad. But you don’t want to. Python IDEs will make it a lot easier to properly format your syntax. PyCharm, Visual Studio, and Jupyter Notebook are among some of the most popular IDEs for Python. Try different versions until you find the one that works right for you.
6. Avoid just copying and pasting code.
While it’s easy to copy and paste code that suits your purposes, it doesn’t help you learn. If you need to look something up, force yourself to actually write the code based on the solution you find. This will be retained better.
7. Try to practice your programming every day.
The more frequently you practice, the more you’ll progress. If you program only a little every month, you’ll find yourself having to re-learn things that you’ve forgotten. Practice consistently, and you’ll discover that you’re building on your knowledge, rather than having to rebuild your knowledge.
8. Join a coding group.
A coding group can accelerate your progress as well as give you an invaluable resource. People learn “unevenly”; what is easy for one person can be difficult for another. Join a coding group and you can all benefit from each other’s knowledge, practice, and strengths. You’ll also find that it’s much easier to work on larger projects together.
9. Ask questions online.
“Real” programmers ask questions all the time. But instead of relying on someone else’s questions (such as on Quora), ask your own. Join a programming Discord or a forum and ask specific questions; it’ll give you a greater understanding of how programming and Python works. Just looking up the answer can help, too, but often it’s for a more generic use case.
10. Learn from multiple sources.
Sometimes the way that something is explained in one text (or video) may not make sense to you, but a different explanation might. When you’re struggling with a concept, look up tutorials, articles, and videos. By learning about something from multiple perspectives, you’ll be more likely to build a thorough understanding.
11. Don’t beat your head against the wall.
If you’re having trouble learning something specific in Python, don’t just keep whacking away at it. It’s possible you’ve hit a mental block. Come back to it again later. Python isn’t the most difficult language to learn, but anyone can get “stuck” if they’re trying to solve the same problem in the same way. By moving on, you might find that the situation later occurs to you naturally.
Python’s actually a very easy language to learn; it’s one of the foundational languages many people learn to start programming. But it can be difficult to master. Through practice, you should be able to become an expert Python programmer — and start building your projects in no time at all.