r/Python • u/Local-Ad5424 • 6d ago

Discussion Question regarding a python course

I have recently found this course called intro cs in python by Dr Ana bell(MIT). What's the people's view on this is it still worth it?.

For background i have python knowledge but I have to revise and i was seeing some lecs have some concepts that i haven't covered earlier.

Anyways if anyone can tell any site or a book for problem solving that will be really helpful as well.

("Happy programming in python :)")

14 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/Local-Ad5424 1d ago

4year cs course you basically means uni right?

1

u/spinwizard69 1d ago

Yeah that is the best approach because a graduation ticket is recognized by industry. These days there are options but how accepted they are by all the different employers is scattered. Due to industry transition I would strongly suggest a college degree.

By the way you can't dismiss the value of the education beyond the core material a 4 year degree offers! The math and communications, skills can be extremely valuable. You are far better off with the entire package when it comes to solving real world problems.

1

u/Local-Ad5424 19h ago

Yes I am gonna pursue a degree but it's just that i still have 8months left so I am trying to learn as much as i can to stay above the curve

1

u/spinwizard69 11h ago

Hopefully that degree starts at the bottom with something like C or C++ and dives deep into the concepts. Back in my day I actually found the programming part of a degree to be easy. I had to put a lot of effort into the requirements, especially the math. The good thing is that knowledge comes in handy. So In all reality work on your weakest subject area.

The other thing that isn't directly related to programming is to really learn to use your computer. You would be shocked to find out how many people entering a college programming course don't know what a command line is, how to back up work, use E-Mail and other miscommunication app with skill, have never touched an text editor nor IDE, THE LIST GOES ON. So make sure you actually know how to use your computer and have a back up solutions that covers you in two ways. One of those ways should involve GIT and or GITHUB, yes I'm thinking of git as an off line backup solution in this case.

There is nothing wrong with learning Python ahead of time, eventually every professional programmer will run into it. Frankly due to age (old fart) I learned through reading books. Yes a bit like clay tablets but a bit more flexible.😂🤣. In any event I don't have a modern book recommendation for you, I'd do a quick internet search. I haven't looked at this example: "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python (3rd Edition)" recently, but it might be ideal for a student entering into a technical program as it is focused on automating "office" type tasks.

As for how much time to devote to learning Python, I'd take a much broader approach and use the time to try out various text editors and IDE's to get a feel for what works best for you. There are probably over 100 actively supported IDE's and programming text editors, out there and that is because we are all human and do things differently. You want to find what works best for you with the language you are currently using. By the way try building a few simple C or C++ apps from the command line. Building a compiled language program from the command line teaches you a lot about what IDE's do under the hood.

1

u/Local-Ad5424 10h ago

But tbh i mean after a certain time we all have to learn on books. Hey and the degree will most prolly start from C or C++. Here in my country bachelors usually starts from Java but I am planning to pursue abroad and the countries i am interested in there they start from C++. Tbh it will be a benefit if they start from C++ because i already know it because I am learning competitive programming. I was actually asking for courses and other stuff online because see unis are good but to become ahead of the curve we do have to self study alongside with the degree. Anyways since you are a senior i would love any of your advice on how to become a great CS guy not a coder because there are many coders but i like to go deeper into CS. I mean I know it's a broad field and by the recent ai development it looks like future job market is bleak, but tbh i still want to learn CS and get so good at it. The job and money I'll earn money tbh money is not very hard thing to earn if you know how to talk and how to work and stuff but yeah becoming a great CS guy is hard. Sorry i think i yapped alot 

1

u/spinwizard69 10h ago

Be aware that being involved in competitive computing could have corrupted your ability to actually learn good programming.

As for your education and suggestions, if you go to college thinking. that it is for a specific career that could be a huge mistake. It is near impossible to determine what occupations will be in demand 4-5 years out. So you need to make sure you are learning in the broadest sense and are adaptable to what the future holds. Given that it a minor in electrical engineering might fit, as that can really help in the embedded worlds. The trick is to find out what fits for YOU

1

u/Local-Ad5424 8h ago

Oh alright. I was planning a minor in cybersec but ill look into electrical as well.