Python Learning
Tasha Feil
Welcome! Are you completely new to programming?If not then we presume you will be looking for information aboutwhy and how to get started with Python.Fortunately anexperienced programmer in any programming language (whatever it may be)can pick up Python very quickly.It's also easy for beginners to use and learn, sojump in!
Installing Python is generally easy, and nowadaysmany Linux and UNIX distributions include a recent Python.Evensome Windows computers (notably those from HP) now come with Pythonalready installed.If you do need to install Python and aren't confident about thetask you can finda few notes on theBeginnersGuide/Downloadwiki page, but installation is unremarkable on most platforms.
Before getting started, you may want to find out which IDEs and texteditors are tailored to makePython editing easy, browse the list of introductory books, or look at code samples that you might findhelpful.
There is a list of tutorials suitable for experienced programmers on theBeginnersGuide/Tutorialspage. There is also a list ofresources in other languageswhich might be useful if English is not your first language.
The online documentationis your first port of call for definitive information.There is a fairly brieftutorialthat gives you basic information about the language andgets you started. You can follow this by looking at thelibrary referencefor a full description of Python's many libraries and thelanguage reference fora complete (though somewhat dry) explanation of Python's syntax.If you are looking for common Python recipes and patterns, youcan browse the ActiveState Python Cookbook
If you want to know whether a particular application, or a librarywith particular functionality, is available in Python there are anumber of possible sources of information. The Python web siteprovides aPython Package Index(also known as the Cheese Shop, a reference to the Monty Pythonscript of that name).There is also asearch page for a number of sources of Python-relatedinformation. Failing that, justGoogle for a phrase including the word ''python''and you may well get the result you need.If all else fails, ask on thepython newsgroupand there's a good chance someone will put you on the right track.
If you want to help to develop Python, take a look at thedeveloper area for further information.Please note that you don't have to be an expert programmerto help. The documentation is just as important as thecompiler, and still needs plenty of work!
If I could turn back time, I'd do things much differently. This article will guide you through the steps to learning Python the right way. If I had this information when I started, it would have fast-tracked my career, saved thousands of hours of wasted time, and prevented much stress.
As a beginner, I struggled to keep myself awake when trying to memorize syntax. However, when I needed to apply Python fundamentals to build an interesting project, I happily stayed up all night to finish it.
My first independent project consisted of adapting my automated essay-scoring algorithm from R to Python. It didn't look pretty, but it gave me a sense of accomplishment and started me on the road to building my skills.
Learning Python is also a great way to impress at work (or get that promotion you've been vying for). To those who can't code, the ability to program sometimes seems like a superpower. Programming gives you the ability to leverage your knowledge and multiply your output. With it, you may be able to get ten times as much work done in the same amount of time. As we mentioned above, when you learn Python, you'll be able to gather data quickly and translate the numbers to real-world solutions. For example, in a business setting, you could add value by doing things like web scraping, sending emails automatically, or even analyzing supply chain production to find missed opportunities for cost savings or quality control. If your boss has mentioned that understanding data science could help you move toward your career goals, a self-paced Python course that helps you learn Python online could be the perfect way to balance a data career and personal development.
In the age of generative AI, Python's significance in 2024 cannot be overstated. It serves as the foundation for AI and machine learning, with key frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch relying on Python for development and innovation. Its effectiveness in automating tasks and analyzing large datasets is crucial for training AI models. Python's seamless integration with AI tools and its widespread use in AI research makes it indispensable for anyone involved in this field. The language's extensive community support, resource availability, and versatility across various domains, including web development and data science, further enhance its importance. Additionally, understanding Python is vital for navigating the ethical and governance aspects of AI, ensuring responsible development and application of AI technologies. Thus, Python's role extends beyond mere programming, becoming a crucial tool for shaping and understanding the future of AI.
Yes, it's very possible to learn Python on your own. There are many learning resources available on the web to help you learn Python for everything from web development to artificial intelligence. Here at Dataquest, we've helped thousands of students learn Python and get jobs in data science, all on their own schedules and from the comfort of their own homes. Teaching yourself Python does take time, though. You must also be sure that you're writing code and applying what you learn in real-world scenarios rather than just watching lecture videos and answering multiple-choice questions. Taking the right approach to learning Python can also be the difference between success or failure when you're learning through self-study.
This site is generously supported by DataCamp. DataCamp offers online interactive Python Tutorials for Data Science. Join 11 million other learners and get started learning Python for data science today!
This site is generously supported by DataCamp. DataCamp offers online interactive Python Tutorials for Data Science. Join over a million other learners and get started learning Python for data science today!
given the fact that each additional language requires less effort to learn and that most of the courses out there are targeted to learn Python from scratch, does anyone know a Python course that's designed purposely for sas users so that I can optimize my learning advancement?
Hey Arne! I recently went through the below course on Udemy and really liked it a lot. It gave me a good general understanding of the Pythonic way of doing things. From there, learning how to use SWAT, SASPy, and DLPy will be really easy.
What's really nice is that you'll be able to use IML, the DATA Step, SQL, and Python all together for each of their strengths. For example, JSON is really easy to manipulate in Python. You can parse JSON in Python, convert it to a data frame, then convert that into a SAS dataset for advanced data manipulation with the DATA Step, SQL, and CAS.
If I program in one language for a few days, then it might take me an hour so so to get back in the groove of another language, and I might momentarily forget some syntax difference. For example, although GDScript looks more like Python than Lua, it allows an optional syntax for dictionary construction that is from Lua. If you learn that syntax while coding GDScript, well, you might try it when scripting Python and loose a couple seconds trying to figure out what you did wrong.
I agree with the comment above that Godot might provide you a better goal-oriented learning environment than you can find elsewhere. Whatever it is that gets you to code is what will make you a better coder.
Everyone learns differently. Maybe try not just different resources but different learning techniques as well (videos, written lessons, pair programming, guided exercises, etc.) and see which ones work best for you.
what kills me is the problem solving aspect. i have always sucked at
problem solving. seeing people in my class doing well at problem
solving just makes me feel useless and that computer science is only
meant for smart people.
Feeling useless just means you are discouraged and unsupported, not
that you are useless. I know personally some people who sometimes feel
that way and they are people I know to be smart and very skilled.
I would like to get into writing some scripts for VW either via Vectorscript or Python. I have pretty much zero experience save for a few modules of "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" on udemy or similar platform. I was wondering if anyone had some tips/recommendations on how they got started and what they found helpful/not helpful.
I'm leaning more towards Python for it's use outside of Vectorworks, but I do recognise @michaelk's point about Vectorscript having some advantages (like with the compile button, exporting objects as script to get the creation data etc.), so i'm interested to hear people's opinion!
If you need to be interactive with VW, then you need to use Vectorscript. Apparently VW lacks the ability to pause execution of a python script while it waits for user interaction. Take a look at this thread that talks about wrapping a Python script inside a Vectorscript and using VS for the interactive part. This means you have to learn at least a little of both.
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