Getting Started

For those just beginning their coding journey, I suggest opting for a self-paced course or book focused on Python to solidify your foundational knowledge. I personally found "Starting Out with Python" to be particularly beneficial; it provides clear introductory content, reasonable coding exercises, and excellent visuals to aid comprehension. However, I advise against attempting to solve every single programming problem presented. Instead, aim to reach a point where you can discuss how to approach each problem, and recognize when further practice becomes redundant.

If you can create a complete Tic Tac Toe or Hangman game, you'll grasp enough concepts to elevate your skills significantly. This phase can be the most challenging, as programming logic differs greatly from learning other subjects, so prepare for some mental challenges ahead.

A Great Framework for Rapid Web Development

As you progress, you might find yourself asking, "How do I create a website?" or "What does real software development entail?" If you secure a position as a software engineer, you'll likely begin by contributing to an existing project or receiving guidance on a new one. However, to truly understand a programming language and its ecosystem, it's crucial to build something independently. I recommend developing a simple web application in Python using FastAPI or Flask that runs smoothly on your local machine. If you're lacking inspiration, consider creating a wish list API that allows users to add, remove, and update items. You can use a global variable or a file for data storage, which simplifies the process by eliminating infrastructure concerns.

This project will teach you how to run an API, create endpoints, and perform CRUD operations, while also giving you experience in building a project from scratch. Explore blogs, tutorials, and documentation to assist you in constructing this API. Familiarize yourself with Make, scripts, and the configurations required for your chosen framework. If you're interested in tackling more complex topics in Python beyond basic web development, I recommend revisiting web development before diving into intricate mathematical concepts, unless you already feel comfortable with such projects.

The beauty of developing a simple web application is its versatility; you can expand it in countless directions or keep it straightforward. You'll gain hands-on experience with everyday coding tasks, utilize libraries such as JSON, and ultimately have a live product to showcase beyond mere console applications.

Moving Forward

Once you've successfully built a simple web API, my advice is to start creating projects that interest you. Leverage third-party APIs to develop something practical; you might be surprised at the number of unreliable data sources available that can be transformed into a clean API. Alternatively, you could explore other paths in Python, such as data science, machine learning, or advanced programming techniques. You'll build upon your existing skills, which will be invaluable as you progress.

I hope this guide has sparked some ideas and provided useful insights. Thank you for reading!

The first video, "How I Learned Python in Just 10 Days," offers insights into effective learning strategies for mastering Python quickly.

The second video, "I've Read Over 100 Books on Python. Here are the Top 3," discusses essential resources for deepening your understanding of Python.