{"id":3754,"date":"2020-05-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/uncategorized\/how-to-learn-python\/"},"modified":"2022-11-15T12:54:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T11:54:51","slug":"how-to-learn-python","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/data-analytics\/how-to-learn-python\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Learn Python?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If current trends continue\u2014which they seem set to do\u2014Python will soon be the world\u2019s most popular programming language.<\/p>\n

Python can be used in fields as varied as data analytics, artificial intelligence, graphic design, and web development. It’s also ubiquitous across big tech, with companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Netflix all using it in their products.<\/p>\n

In short, Python has become a fundamental part of our digital ecosystem, which makes it a great skill for any aspiring techie to learn.<\/p>\n

In this post, we\u2019ll look at what you should do if you want to learn Python from scratch:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Read up on Python<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Download the necessary tools<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Take a tutorial and play with some code<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Get online support<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Consider taking a structured course<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Attend a Python meetup<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Summary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. Read up on Python<\/h2>\n

    It might sound obvious, but be sure to read up on Python\u2019s basics. We\u2019ve covered many of the language\u2019s features and applications in previous blog posts. If you haven\u2019t already, we suggest starting with our Python guide<\/a>. Another key resource you\u2019ll find useful is the Python Wiki<\/a> (definitely one to bookmark!).<\/p>\n

    Read around the topic, too. Python has so many applications: understanding them before you start will really help focus your mind when you begin learning. If you\u2019re completely new to programming, the Python Wiki also offers\u00a0an excellent list of resources<\/a> that presume no prior knowledge.<\/p>\n

    2. Download the necessary tools<\/h2>\n

    Python is cross-platform (meaning you don\u2019t need a specific operating system to use or execute it on) and there are versions available for all major operating systems. This includes Windows, macOS, and Linux. Jumping right in might seem scary, but it needn\u2019t be. Like any language, the best way to learn Python is to play around with it. But first\u2026<\/p>\n

    Select a code editor or integrated development environment<\/h3>\n

    Before installing Python, you\u2019ll want to choose a code editor. This is a simple tool that\u2019s used to write and (as the name suggests) edit code. Code editors are lightweight programs that include useful features like syntax formatting and highlighting. At this stage, any basic editor should be sufficient for your needs. However, a popular one is Visual Studio Code<\/a>. Used by novices and experts alike, VS Code is open-source and free to use. But don\u2019t limit yourself\u2014the Python Wiki has an exhaustive list of currently available code editors<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    When your coding skills become more sophisticated, you\u2019ll want to download an integrated development environment (IDE). Unlike a code editor, an IDE is designed for more complex programming. It comes with several additional features such as build, test, and debugging tools, which will significantly speed up your work. As a novice you won\u2019t need an IDE right away, but keep it in mind. A popular open-source IDE is PyCharm<\/a>. The Python Wiki also lists IDEs for different operating systems.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Download the latest version of Python<\/h3>\n

    You\u2019re now ready to get started\u2026 time to download Python<\/a>! The Real Python website<\/a> offers a foolproof guide for installing it. Some systems even have it pre-installed. Simply type \u2018python\u2019 into a command window and hit enter. This will tell you which version (if any) you have. At the time of writing, the latest release is Python 3.8<\/a>, so be sure that you\u2019re up to date. This is important, because some older versions aren\u2019t forward compatible.<\/p>\n

    If you don\u2019t want to download anything yet, that\u2019s fine.\u00a0An online code editor<\/a> will give you access to the compiler and language all packaged in. If you prefer to learn on the go, you can even download packages for Android<\/a> and Apple<\/a> devices. These aren\u2019t ideal for big projects, but they\u2019re great for playing around.<\/p>\n

    3. Take a tutorial and play with some code<\/h2>\n

    So, you\u2019ve downloaded Python and you\u2019re ready to go\u2026 finally, your chance to play with some code! Your first port of call should be the Python website, which offers tonnes of introductory documentation, including FAQs<\/a>. If you already have a basic understanding of coding, we recommend starting with the Python beginner\u2019s tutorial<\/a>. This introduces the basic aspects of Python-specific programming, introducing the interpreter (which reads and executes your code), how to use Python as a calculator, and concepts such as strings, lists, and other basic functions.<\/p>\n

    Never coded before? Don\u2019t panic! There are more accessible tutorials that walk you through the basics in plain English. For instance, this Python tutorial for aspiring web developers<\/a> offers a great introduction to Python programming concepts in general. As does this e-book, Automate the Boring Stuff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Recommended reading:<\/strong> What are the different Python data types?<\/a><\/p>\n

    Push yourself with Python libraries<\/h3>\n

    Once you\u2019ve played with some code and are feeling confident, you might be ready to stretch yourself. If so, the Python standard library<\/a> is a good place to start. It contains over 200 modules of pre-existing code. These allow you to automate many functions (e.g. returning Boolean values\u2014\u2018true or false\u2019). You can also download any number of third-party libraries from the Python Package Index (PyPI)<\/a>. These open-source repositories offer industry- and discipline-specific modules for everything from data analytics to web development. As a beginner, you might find these topics a bit challenging, which brings us to our next point\u2026<\/p>\n

    \"Person<\/h2>\n

    4. Get online support<\/h2>\n

    Even the best of us have questions from time to time. Luckily, one of Python\u2019s key selling points is its user-driven community. With loads of active, online support forums, you\u2019ll quickly find an answer, whatever your query. Here are some to try.<\/p>\n

    Stack Overflow<\/h3>\n

    Probably the best-known coders\u2019 forum, Stack Overflow<\/a> is a Q&A site for professional and novice developers. It has a strong reputation for bringing tech enthusiasts together and includes support for all major programming languages. Search around before posting a query, as you\u2019ll often find it\u2019s already been answered.<\/p>\n

    The Python forum<\/h3>\n

    Python\u2019s own forum<\/a> is less extensive than Stack Overflow but offers registration-free access to some of the most common Python queries. These cover general coding issues, as well as those relating to Python\u2019s applications in different areas, e.g. data science, web scraping, game development, and more.<\/p>\n

    Python Internet Relay Chat<\/h3>\n

    Want real-time support from other developers? Python Internet Relay Chat is for you. Visit webchat.freenode.net, register a nickname, and log in using the channel \u2018#python\u2019. There\u2019s always someone on hand to help. There are also Python channels for non-English speakers: \u2018#python.de\u2019 for German, \u2018#python.fr\u2019 for French, and \u2018#python.pt\u2019 for Portuguese.<\/p>\n

    GitHub Community Forum<\/h3>\n

    A well-known application development platform, GitHub allows developers to access free documentation and contribute to open-source projects. While it is a general development platform (i.e. not Python-specific) it has a community forum<\/a> where you can search for (or post) any queries you have\u2014Python-related or otherwise.<\/p>\n

    5. Consider taking a structured course<\/h2>\n

    Once you\u2019ve mastered Python\u2019s basics, why not specialize your skills? A structured online course will teach you how to apply Python to specific disciplines. Data analytics, for instance, is one of Python\u2019s fastest-growing areas and CareerFoundry has just launched a new Intro to Data Analytics course<\/a>. There are tonnes of other options available; check out this round-up of the best data bootcamps for learning Python<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    6. Attend a Python meetup<\/h2>\n

    By this stage, you should have a good working knowledge of Python\u2019s syntax, features, and applications. If you want to take things further there are many personal development options available. Online communities are great for ad hoc support, but a real-world community of like-minded individuals will help you take Python to the next level. Conferences and workshops are an excellent starting point. They spark passion, new ideas, and can help you figure out where you\u2019d like to go next.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll find a big list of events on the Python community forum<\/a>. We\u2019ve highlighted three popular options as a taster:<\/p>\n