Before we get in…
In this article, we will be discussing how to learn Python right from Scratch, the next steps after learning the fundaments, and how to make the learning even more efficient with 10 tips to becoming a python expert
Personally, I wanted to learn python for Web Development, but it looked like I wasn’t doing anything close to web development when I was learning the fundamentals. But looking back at it now, I feel learning the fundamentals and practicing them were the most important part of my python journey. The more you are thorough with the Python Syntax and Functions, the more easily you grasp advanced python, or Web development in my case
#1 LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS
Before you jump into learning any particular Python Module, it’s better to have the fundamentals at your fingertips. This will help you a lot in understanding Python’s Syntax
- Basic Operations
- Data Types
- Strings
- Lists
- Sets and Dictionaries
- Loops
- If Conditions
- Functions
- Regular Expressions
- OOP
#2 SOME LEARNING RESOURCES
There are a lot of resources for learning python, but I thought it’ll be more useful only if I list down some of the websites and apps that made my Python journey even more fun and efficient. But these resources are useful only if you practice whatever you learn
- Sololearn: Sololearn has the world’s largest collection of FREE programming courses to learn how to code that can also be accessed through a mobile app.
- Python.org: The official Python documentation. The site also provides a beginner’s guide, a Python glossary, setup guides, and how-tos.
- EdX: Access 2000 free online courses from 140 leading institutions worldwide.
- Stack Overflow: A public platform building the definitive collection of coding questions & answers
#3 USE AN INTERACTIVE PYTHON SHELL
Using an interactive python shell or ipython can actually boost your understanding of how python works. It can also give you a fair amount of experience in debugging. It’s really simple to install ipython on your computer with pip, you just have to run pip install ipython and you are good to go
#4 MAKE A TEAM
Making a team and working together would be a really good idea while learning to code. This way people share with you the tips and tricks they know, and you can teach them as well. There are many ways to do this, you can find some discord servers where people learn to code as a team.
I made a group of 6 in sololearn. I learned and practiced python along with the other members, which developed my problem-solving skills. Here, I learned how to approach a problem efficiently and with different perspectives, eventually coming out with a shorter and better code
#5 PRACTICE TO BECOME AN EXPERT
All that you learn in python is of use only if you practice them. Build as many programs as you can until you get a fine grip on the particular area. You might come through a bunch of errors, that’s totally fine.
The more bugs you are exposed to, the more you learn how to solve them, with time making you an Expert in Python
#6 WORK ON BUGS
As already mentioned, working on bugs is an important part of learning to code. If you are stuck with an error, try your best to solve it, in case you have absolutely no idea how to do that, you can always google the error and learn how to debug. Personally, I learned a lot by debugging and practicing.
#7 BE CONSISTENT
If you want to master python in no time, then you gotta be consistent, you have to code everyday to have the flow, where at a certain point of time you find it easy to approach a problem and solve it
For me, since I used sololearn for learning python, keeping up my streak motivated me to code everyday
#8 PICK A PYTHON LIBRARY
Alright, let’s say you’ve mastered the fundamentals, had a fair amount of experience in building and debugging programs, what next?
Pick a library! Python’s got a cluster of libraries using which you can work on bigger projects. In order to be a real python expert, you have to choose the libraries that interest you and start mastering them one by one. We have listed down some of the widely used Python libraries from which you can choose if you like, or just surf through the internet and choose one
Machine Learning (ML)
- Tensorflow: TensorFlow is a library developed by the Google Brain team for the primary purpose of Deep Learning and Neural Networks.
- Numpy: Numpy is used for handling multi-dimensional data and intricate mathematical functions.
- Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK): NLTK is the widely used library for Text Classification and Natural Language Processing.
- Pandas: The Library is written in Python Web framwork and is used for data manipulation for numerical data and time series.
Game Developement
- Pygame: Pygame is an open-source Python library for making multimedia applications like games built on top of the excellent SDL library.
Web-development
- Django: Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design
- Flask: Flask is a lightweight WSGI web application framework. It is designed to make getting started quick and easy, with the ability to scale up to complex applications.
#9 LEARN FROM THE DOCUMENTATION
If you are onto mastering any particular library, it is best you also learn from the documentation of that particular library. For instance, in Django, I learn from the django’s documentation too, which actually helps me alot.
It’s like, all that you want to learn from a particular library is put into one single website, which is really cool!
#10 BUILD YOUR FIRST PROJECT
If you’re a beginner, there are alot of exercises that you can check out for practicing and building new projects, like
- Rock paper scissors
- Soduku
- Dice Rolling Simulator
- Calorie counter
- Quadratic Equations
Basically, whatever you want, however cringe it is, it doesn’t matter, the goal is to build it!
TO SUM UP. . .
You have to master the fundamentals first. Once you’re done, practice and work on bugs until you find it easy to build projects. When you are finished with the fundamentals, pick a library and learn that. Make sure you’re also taking a look at the Documentation
If you are on your way to becoming a Python expert, you might find our site really helpful. Hit this link for more python related posts
Check it out, it’s Simply the Best Code.