Learning Python from scratch

❓#DidYouKnow that #Python is the most popular programming language nowadays according to the PopularitY of Programming Language (PYPL) [1] and the TIOBE [2] index?

💡 PYPL ranks programming languages based on search results in the most common search engines containing the language name plus the keyword ‘tutorial’. The TIOBE index ranks programming languages on a more diverse search pattern that includes search engines, experienced coders, and widely used online resources like Wikipedia.

🐍 Python is an object-oriented scripting language that aims for readability, among other design principles. This principle makes the code easy to understand and also intuitive to learn.

🥚 #DidYouKnow that they hide the design principles of Python as an easter egg inside the interpreter? Therefore, you run a python code with the single statement `import this`. Then the principles will unveil themselves 😉.

❓How can you get started learning Python from scratch?

1️⃣ Online resources

There are many different online resources like free and paid courses:

✅ Python for everybody (PY4E) offers a bundle of free resources to learn Python from scratch (https://www.py4e.com).

✅ DataCamp presents an interactive free Python course focusing on data science in the last module ( https://lnkd.in/eCDjUW8M).

✅ One slightly more advanced course is Programming Foundations with Python from Udacity which covers part of the object-oriented programming concepts in Python.

2️⃣ Books

📗 One of the most read books about Python is Learning Python by Mark Lutz (O'Reilly).

📗 Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes (No Starch Press) covers the basics first and then provides ideas for hands-on examples.

📗 A book that follows the learning-by-doing approach is Learn Python the Hard Way by Zed Shaw (Pearson).

3️⃣ Implement small projects

You will learn the fastest way through implementing projects like tic-tac-toe or scissor-rock-paper. However, setting up a complete Python environment can be overwhelming. Therefore, online environments and IDEs are a great alternative to get started. Some examples are replit.com, online-python.com or codingrooms.com

📢 Let’s start your first Python implementation! How about playing a round of tic-tac-toe? ⁣

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References:

[1] https://lnkd.in/fcxT2Ai

[2] https://lnkd.in/gG6WaGa

Contributing Editor: Women in AI & Robotics community member Julia Nitsch

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