Are you a beginner learning Python, worried about taking the wrong path? Either staring blankly at tutorials or forgetting what you learned earlier? Don’t panic! I’ve organized reliable methods I’ve used, explaining everything from the basics to resources clearly, so you can learn confidently!
1. Basic learning structured weekly, taking only a little time each day
1. First week (total 4 hours): Start by setting up the tools—Python and PyCharm. Search online for an installation tutorial and follow a few steps to get it done. Then learn the basics: using print to output a line of text, naming content (which is a variable), how to get input from the user, and if-else statements (for example, “if age is 18 or older, display ‘adult’, otherwise display ‘minor'”). Once you master these, you can write a simple script.
2. Second week (total 5 hours): Move on to learning data types (for example, 123 is an integer, “abc” is a string), arithmetic operators, loops (for example, making the program print “Hello” 10 times), and functions (packaging commonly used code for reuse). Mastering these will allow you to handle slightly more complex logic.
3. Third week (total 5 hours): Find simple problems to practice, such as printing “Armstrong numbers” (three-digit numbers where the sum of the cubes of its digits equals the number itself, like 153). Don’t be afraid of difficulty; break down the steps according to basic syntax, and remember to review after practice to solidify your understanding.
4. Fourth week (total 6 hours): Try intermediate problems, such as reversing a string (turning “abc” into “cba”, which can be used to check for palindromes), calculating the greatest common divisor of two numbers, and writing a number guessing game (where the program randomly selects a number, and you guess while the program hints if your guess is too high or too low). These problems will help you develop “programming thinking” rather than just memorizing syntax.
5. Fifth week (total 18 hours): Start learning “Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)”. Don’t be intimidated by the name; it’s about designing code as “objects” (for example, designing a “Student” class that includes attributes like name and age). Focus on understanding “classes” and “objects”, how to create constructors, and take your time; understanding the concepts is more important than memorizing definitions.
6. Sixth week (total 38 hours): Advance to higher-level OOP concepts, such as “inheritance” (for example, a “PrimaryStudent” inherits attributes from “Student” and adds its own characteristics), “polymorphism”, and design patterns. This step makes your code more flexible, so you won’t have to make major changes when modifying it later. Beginners shouldn’t strive for perfection; just grasp the basic usage first.
2. Which bloggers should beginners follow? These two are a safe bet
– Heima Programmer: Provides very detailed explanations, such as step-by-step screenshots for software installation, and breaks down syntax problems into “what to do first, what to do second”, so beginners can just follow along and code.
– Little Turtle: Has a humorous speaking style, avoiding dry presentations of knowledge points, and includes small case studies (like creating a simple calculator with Python), making learning less tedious. His content focuses on the basics without too many complex concepts.
3. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many problems; these three websites are sufficient for beginners
– Programming by Doing: Contains only basic problems, each with hints like “first define a variable”, so beginners won’t get stuck and can gradually find their coding rhythm.
– Must-Do Programming 50 Problems: Problems are arranged from easy to difficult, starting with simple tasks like printing patterns and calculating values, gradually adding logic, so you won’t feel discouraged right away. Completing these will solidify your foundation.
– Leetcode: Use this after you’ve practiced the basics; it has many problems, and many users share their solutions, which is useful for developing logical thinking when you encounter difficulties.
4. Don’t search randomly for learning materials; these are sufficient
1. Toolkits: Directly search for the “Python official website” to download the installation package. PyCharm has a free community version, which is enough for beginners, so avoid downloading from sketchy sites that may contain viruses.
2. PDF Books:
– “Learn Python with Comics”: Contains comics that explain knowledge points through small stories, like using “dividing apples” to illustrate variables, making it easy to read and suitable for beginners.
– “Python Cheat Sheet”: Summarizes small knowledge points comprehensively, such as how to use operators and the format of functions, making it quicker to reference than flipping through a thick book.
– “Python Programming Quick Start”: Contains many small projects, like creating a script to batch rename files or scrape web content, allowing you to apply what you learn directly, which is very rewarding.
– “Python Programming from Beginner to Practice”: The first half covers basic syntax, while the second half guides you through projects (like creating a small game), combining theory with practice, making it less likely for beginners to forget what they’ve learned.
– “Fluent Python”: Read this after solidifying your basics; it discusses advanced Python usage, helping you write cleaner code, making it suitable for advanced learners.
3. Note Collections: For example, “Core Python Notes” and “Zero-Basics Entry Manual”; these notes highlight key points, saving you time from having to mark important sections in textbooks. You can find free versions online.
5. These content creators each have their focus; watch according to your needs
– Programming with Mosh: Provides a very systematic approach, covering everything from basic syntax to advanced knowledge, with a moderate speaking pace. He breaks down complex concepts into simple terms, such as using “car manufacturing” to explain OOP, making it perfect for beginners wanting to switch careers.
– Freecodecamp: Offers comprehensive content, not just Python but also front-end and back-end topics, so you can explore other directions in the future. Plus, all videos are free, so you don’t have to pay for courses.
– CS Dojo: Videos are short, mostly 10-20 minutes, packed with useful information without fluff, such as “how to handle strings in Python” and “common list operations”, making it easy to find specific knowledge points when needed.
– Talusko: Specializes in data science and machine learning. If you want to use Python for data analysis or AI, his lessons are very suitable, often using real-world examples, like “how to analyze sales data with Python”.
– Neetcode: Explains problems very clearly, not just giving answers but first discussing “what problem this question is solving and how to approach it”, then writing code step by step, allowing beginners to learn problem-solving thinking rather than just memorizing answers.
– Coding Train: Has a fun style, creating interesting projects with Python, like drawing dynamic graphics or making games. Watching his videos can rekindle your interest in programming when you’re feeling tired of studying.
– Derek Banas: Suitable for those wanting to do web development, covering both front-end (like HTML, CSS) and back-end (like Python frameworks), and teaching how to combine front and back ends to create simple websites, making it very practical.
– Computerphile: More theoretical but not dull, discussing topics like “why Python is so popular” and “what data science really does”, helping you understand the underlying logic, not just learning code but also grasping the principles.
– The New Boston: Offers comprehensive web development content, from basics to advanced, with stable updates. If you want to learn web development systematically, you can follow along; the explanations are very accessible for beginners.
In fact, starting with Python isn’t that difficult; there’s no need to fear that you won’t be able to learn. Follow the steps above to build a foundation, and use these resources to fill in the gaps, and you’ll gradually get the hang of it. At first, you might encounter some roadblocks, but don’t rush; try a few more times and consult resources, and soon you’ll find that you can write decent code too!