Which language to start as a beginner with hobbyist interest.... help

[welshdragon]

Afternoon all,

As the title really, looking to develop some knowledge and understanding of coding and doing some mini projects. Mainly as a hobby, but also because I like learning and to help guide my son in time.

I has originally intended to go down the swift route, and still might, as I have a MacBook air and playgrounds breaks you in nicely to core concepts and theres a ton of resource.

Before I do though, my main rig is a pc and I wonder out loud if another language would serve me better as hobbyist as swift is tied down to apple and essentially apps etc

So, my search so far has brought me down to Python, C# or maybe Javascipt.

What would people recommend as a beginner language? Should I stick with swift (?) as I feel something else might be more versatile with a wider range of hobbysit projects etc

Help very much appreciated

 

[welshdragon]

Noswaith dda

I think I feel the same. It comes down to Python and Swift and maybe down the line swift will be fun I need something broad and like you say, lots of projects opportunities.

Now then do they do a python version of 'hackingwithswift'

 

[welshdragon]

I hate to say it, but to learn coding, you have to learn to learn coding...! Ie it's not about one language, but about learning to quickly pick up new ones - there's always something new coming along, so I'd dive into python and you'll be learning something else in 12 months!

I'm up for this. I want something on the friendly side to start with projects and applications I can use to be interested before maybe going down another route.

 

[welshdragon]

I started with C++. Wouldn't recommend it.

Friendlier ones are by far python and VBA of the others that I used.

Starting to look like python might be my gateway. Keen on python as in time my sons code camp when he's older will go that way so would like to keep up with him too

 

[welshdragon]

Wondering now what to start with? Should I use Treehouse/Freecodecamp/codeacademy or something else?

 

[welshdragon]

Happy to spend some money . I guess I’m looking for the Angela Yu of Python courses so any recommendations we’ll received.

Edit: so 3 choices are starting to appear

1. 100days of python its a $12.99 udemy purchase which is fine and its Angela Yu who seem's highly regarded?
2. freecodecamp
3. Microsoft learn - came in from the left but free and has a number of pathways and I like the video on getting setup

Leaning towards MS Learn then into 100 days, what do people think?

 

[welshdragon]

I think you should use this other tool to give you short challenges. You can stick to just one language and do this along side your chief learning course. It really helpful and remember not to try over-do the learning, start off with 30 mins spells and work your way up to no more than an hour of concentrating a day.

Cheers dude, that looks great! Any thoughts on the above 3 paths?

 

[welshdragon]

If you want to learn to code and look to help your son learn too, then Python is a good language to start with, as it's now part of the curriculum. My daughter's been learning it.

Awesome thank you.

 

[welshdragon]

So, I think I will give the MS Learn pathway a go. It's a 4-hour introduction to basic concepts and vscode and jupyter. From there hopeful its a gentle intro and I will either go into something like codewars or find a more in depth course to expand the basics?

@gpuerrilla what do you think? THIS is their basic path. It almoist seems too short but hoping im right and thinking basic means basic then I progress from there?

 

[welshdragon]

Once you have the basics of Python, a fun (& topical) challenge is to work through the Advent of Code puzzles. As you might guess, there’s a new puzzle each day in December until Christmas.

Nice, thank you for that.

 

[welshdragon]

Harvard do a free Python course -

CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python

An introduction to programming using Python, a popular language for general-purpose programming, data science, web programming, and more.

cs50.harvard.edu

MIT also if you can do High School Algebra -

Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | MIT OpenCourseWare

_6.0001 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python_ is intended for students with little or no programming experience. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems and to help students, regardless of their major, feel...

ocw.mit.edu

There are a few free python books here -

Invent with Python

You could start with Automate the boring stuff and there is also a Udemy course that uses the book if you wanted to do that route.

Thank you, thats greatly appreciated mate

 

[welshdragon]

So a small update.

I've finally had a few hours to sit and work through some of the MS stuff. Its great but I am finding it disjointed where MS Learn points to using Jupyter the MS Python youtube series does not. This is causing me a smidge of confusion being brand brand new.

DO others use VS Code with the Jupyter extension? Is this the way and maybe things will click more as I go?

So I am thinking of using the Python Principles site to learn some basics then go into the MS Learn stuff, what do people think? Concious I am getting stuck in the how rather than just doing?

 

[welshdragon]

Not having dabbled in Python I'm not entirely sure what this means, is Jupyter the IDE they use in one course? Which are you doing, an MS course or just finding YT videos?

This is why I like (good) Udemy courses. They will show you what to install and you just follow along. It removes a lot of the confusion.

Well I was going to use the MS learn pathway, which advocates vscode and jupyter. But the pathway is quite short and whilst it holds your hand getting vscode code setup with jupyter and downloading python etc, the rest of the pathway is a bit short and is modules form multiple paths so looks and feels a bit disjointed.

I like VS Code and I like the idea off Jupiter, as its a note book I can write and run the code in and type it up and export it etc

However, I seem to have gone in a circle again tied up with the editor and environment more than the learning.

Which led me to python principles, in browser simple pathway for the basics before I chip on.

Its so frustrating being overwhelmed as to where to start

 

[welshdragon]

SO, I think I like VSCode and Jupyter as an environment to dev in.

Going to use the python principles site as at the moment its a free upgrade to the whole course.

Just been looking at the Corey Schafer series on youtube and seem's to tick my boxes so will work through the site then do the video tutorials.

Unsolicited update I know but has helped me to verbalise this here.

 

[welshdragon]

Corey is really good at explaining, take it slow some days you feel like you got nowhere, others you make lots of progress. My mistake was having no momentum where I could go months without the time to pick up again. If you can even do persistent one hour every day its better than sporadic bursts.

Good advice cheers mate, hopefully now im on the right track....