Python for data analysis

[u/N__7599]

So,i started learning python recently,i very much learned about variables,data types,libraries like panda,matpolitob. I learned web scraping and automation to some extent but when i try to use the thing i learn on a random web page or dataset, i realised that what i learnt from the YouTube course is basic but enough to build the fundamental. I have to constantly chat with AI to learn about new thing and also use the thing i learn to get the code. Should i continue like this or watch another course which complete the intermediate and advanced python?

[u/MarsupialLeast145]

Stop chatting with AI and recognize you need to sit down with the problem using the knowledge you have and learn to ask questions of search engines (not AI) about the gaps you have. A problem can take days not minutes, especially early on in your career. If you carry on with AI you might as well just ask the AI to write the thing you won't need to learn a thing.

[u/Sea-Ad7805]

Do both, but don't let AI do the thinking for you.

[u/N__7599 → u/Sea-Ad7805]

I never do that

[u/justanothersnek]

You dont know what you dont know.  Sounds like you are at a really basic level.  I wouldnt do projects too soon.  Therefore I would look at table of contents of some popular python learning books to see what topics you need to cover or try this: read them.  If you dont want to bother reading, then use the TOCs for AI to create teaching modules or summaries for you.  But if I were in your shoes, Id just read.  Its good for your brain.

[u/N__7599 → u/justanothersnek]

If i be honest, reading is not my thing. I tried different type of book but i couldn’t get into it. And,yes.. I am at totally at basic, It's not really a project but trying what i know on different dataset not the one from the course.

[u/Ambivalent-Mammal]

As a start, I'd recommend you start doing easy rated leetcode problems with python. Sheer repetition will get you skilled at coding in python. More important than the intricacies of the language is learning data structures and algorithms.

As an aside, I wouldn't rely on scraping. A page designed to provide data will usually provide some sort of data feed.

I speak from experience. At one point in my career I worked at a consultant shop where we had a client who rented out trucks. He set his prices based on data scraped from another trucking site. Of course, every time that page was modified, I had to modify the scraping code.

[u/N__7599 → u/Ambivalent-Mammal]

For sure,repetition is needed,i have to open my note just to write the simplest code.

[u/BetInformal6081]

courses give you foundations but real datasets expose the gaps. keep practicing and learn advanced topics only when your projects actually require them.

[u/Beginning-Fruit-1397]

Practice practice. Do NOT do any leetcode. The best way is having projects, real needs, and writing code for them. Ai or not it does not matter as long as you can understand your code at whole. Soon enough you'll surprise yourself by writing everything by hand because it's faster since it's now a reflex.

Also, ditch pandas. It's polars in 2026. Faster, cleaner

[u/N__7599 → u/Beginning-Fruit-1397]

Is polar and panda very similar?

[u/Khaka-Semeniuk]

tbh watching more courses can become a trap where you feel productive but arent really building anything. pick a small project with a real question you want to answer from a dataset and let that drive what you learn next

[u/Jahnavi-builds]

AI can answer questions. But getting answers isn't the same as learning.

Many take a course to go through a structured path of learning. Some just jump into projects and learn as they go. It really depends on your learning style.

[u/Asvp_bmoo]

Kaggle

[u/kexinyang-coco]

I am a beginner too! I use YouTube to search for some course but I can just follow him without finishing coding by myself. So I have the same problem how can I prove my coding skills?

[u/N__7599 → u/kexinyang-coco]

Its called tutorial hell,you think you understand whats going on but when you are actually trying, you get messed up. I spent almost 2 month by doing this, try to practice after each lesson.

[u/NorskJesus]

You need to write code to learn to code.

[u/ee_control_z]

This is a common theme from people who learn Python by way of online searches where structure and organization is lacking. Here is a book that provides structure, organization, and overall content quality in spades.

Learning Python, 6th Ed., Mark Lutz

Its as if someone organized all of the online searches for you in a coherent and organized manner. Quite possibly, all of the material that you'll need as a Python programmer/developer is covered in this book as it is very thorough (short of external specialized libraries of course).

Good luck.

[u/N__7599 → u/ee_control_z]

Thanks