Python Training

What do you all think are the best (can be paid or free) python training courses out there for a complete beginner? Looking for suggestions.
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Comments

  • airzeroairzero Member Posts: 126
    codeacademy.com is always a great free resource to start with that'll teach you the basics. Youtube has a lot of tutorials and I'm sure you can find pdf versions of books online with some googling.
  • NetworkNewbNetworkNewb Member Posts: 3,298 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Teamtreehouse.com is pretty decent. Have used it in the past. Isn't free though.

    The best way I think to learn a language, to me at least, is to learn the basics and then try and make something on your own with it. Something that is interesting and something you might actually get some use out of. I feel like when I try to learn a new language and I don't have an immediate use for it I end up getting bored with it and go onto something else.
  • the_Grinchthe_Grinch Member Posts: 4,165 ■■■■■■■■■■
    https://www.udemy.com/python-the-complete-python-developer-course/learn/v4/overview

    Tim is the man when it comes to teaching programming and you goes through everything with the language.
    WIP:
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  • b0Risb0Ris Member Posts: 27 ■□□□□□□□□□
    the_Grinch wrote: »
    https://www.udemy.com/python-the-complete-python-developer-course/learn/v4/overview

    Tim is the man when it comes to teaching programming and you goes through everything with the language.

    based on this advice I bought the class and look forward to starting soon. Thanks internet stranger!
  • f16jetmanf16jetman Member Posts: 108
    I have been following along with "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Interactive Edition" Link: https://runestone.academy/runestone/default/user/login?_next=/runestone/default/index
    It is completely free and teaches Python and how to approach problems as a trained Computer Scientist would. I have tried other courses, but I find they just teach you syntax and make you follow along with their projects without actually teaching how to see a problem and formulate a solution.

    I hope you try it out!
    I picked the wrong profession. Too much studying. :study:
    [FONT=&amp]Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, [/FONT][FONT=&amp]but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24[/FONT]
  • YuckTheFankeesYuckTheFankees Member Posts: 1,281 ■■■■■□□□□□
    This is what I used to learn Python:

    *Started with: https://learnpythonthehardway.org/
    *Subscribed to Safaribooksonline.com and then I was able to review almost every Python book out there
    *Books: The Hitchhikers Guide to Python, Effective Python: 59 Specific Ways to Write Better Python, Python Cookbook

    Your goal is to get a good foundation of Python and then pick a topic you like...you'll learn a lot more when you can apply Python to something you actually want to create/learn (web crawling, networking, web dev, pentesting, etc..).
  • STANLY_CCSTANLY_CC Member Posts: 338 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Stanly CC offers an online programing course. Here are some course details This class is conducted online. This course introduces students to basic programming concepts using a modified Python language for education. This is a free software download for students.

    We also plan to offer Cisco's Python Programming course in the near future.

    You can send me a pm or check out our new IT Academy web page on our college site: https://www.stanly.edu/it-academy
  • nisti2nisti2 Member Posts: 503 ■■■■□□□□□□
    You can do the online and free training of Python The Hard Way https://learnpythonthehardway.org/
    2020 Year goals:
    Already passed: Oracle Cloud, AZ-900
    Taking AZ-104 in December.

    "Certs... is all about IT certs!"
  • DatabaseHeadDatabaseHead Member Posts: 2,753 ■■■■■■■■■■
    I've seen coursera loading up on Python courses. Anyone had a chance to take one of these?
  • About7NarwhalAbout7Narwhal Member Posts: 761
    I used LearnPythonTheHardway.org like a few others and learned a lot. This won't make you a professional, but it sets a great foundation. He has a starter and advanced book for Python 2 and a starter book for Python 3. The advanced Python 3 book is in pre-publishing right now. Find the free online version python 3 HERE.

    I cannot comment on the advanced Python books as I haven't used them yet. Good luck, I enjoyed Python.
  • lacagrl17lacagrl17 Member Posts: 40 ■■■□□□□□□□
    What's your end goal? Here's a good one for system administrators: Python 3 Scripting
  • yoba222yoba222 Member Posts: 1,237 ■■■■■■■■□□
    While not the OP, I Just wanted to thank everybody for their contributions to this topic. I was seriously tempted by that Linux Academy 9 hour scripting course, but I'd rather not sprint through it in 7 days or pay $49 for access for a month. I have the Automate the Boring stuff textbook and that Runestone interactive book is really cool.

    I ended up dropping $12 on the Tim Buchalka/Jean-Paul Roberts course on Udemy because of this thread. I think what swayed me was checking their forums and seeing some random student had posted a question 2 hours ago. Jean-Paul had replied an hour later. The free stuff is great, but it's harder when you have a question in the content because you're basically on your own to figure it out, at least from my perspective.
    A+, Network+, CCNA, LFCS,
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  • EagerDinosaurEagerDinosaur Member Posts: 114
    I started learning Python after I bought a Raspberry Pi. I found that provided plenty of motivation for me to learn, because I wanted to get the camera and other sensors working, and there are lots of on-line tutorials for Python on the Pi. It includes Python development tools as standard.
  • versoleversole Member Posts: 11 ■□□□□□□□□□
    you should learn from youtube best source for learning python I personally believe that or you could go to codeacedmy.
  • alex0809alex0809 Registered Users Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    mog27 wrote: »
    What do you all think are the best (can be paid or free) python training courses out there for a complete beginner? Looking for suggestions.

    These two are both great fun!
    https://www.i2tutorials.com/python-tutorial/
    https://learnpythonthehardway.org/
  • mzx380mzx380 Member Posts: 453 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Gonna follow this thread for my 2019 goals!
    Certifications: ITIL, ACA, CCNA, Linux+, VCP-DCV, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM
    Currently Working On: Microsoft 70-761 (SQL Server)
  • j23evanj23evan Member Posts: 135 ■■■■□□□□□□
    https://developer.cisco.com/ Cisco's DevNet has great Python/JSON/REST API courses and modules for free (though it does lean more on the UCS Compute & Network side) and Cisco's NPDESI paid class is pretty darn amazing if you don't mind sipping from the firehose.
    https://vWrong.com - Microsoft Certified Trainer 2013-2018 - VMware vExpert 2014-2018 - Cisco Champion 2018 - http://linkedin.com/in/j23evan/
  • NavyMooseCCNANavyMooseCCNA Member Posts: 544 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I tried a Python course through Udemy (Python: Zero to Hero) and I struggled with it. I tried codeacademy and didn't like it either. I also tried Python for Security Professionals on Cybrary and that was a waste of time. My background is infrastructure and I am trying to grow further with information security and I want to at least look at code and understand what is happening and with time make changes to the code.

    Coming from an infrastructure background I am used to working off of checklists, procedures, and guidelines. I am very left brained and I think the creativity of knowing when to use a certain command in a script is more of a right brain activity. I was able to do some of the scripting activities, others I had to do a ton of googling without really understanding why something worked.

    I haven't tried any Python in the past month or so, because I was getting discouraged.

    'My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly' Winston Churchil

  • yoba222yoba222 Member Posts: 1,237 ■■■■■■■■□□
    I tried a Python course through Udemy (Python: Zero to Hero) and I struggled with it. I tried codeacademy and didn't like it either. I also tried Python for Security Professionals on Cybrary and that was a waste of time. My background is infrastructure and I am trying to grow further with information security and I want to at least look at code and understand what is happening and with time make changes to the code.

    Coming from an infrastructure background I am used to working off of checklists, procedures, and guidelines. I am very left brained and I think the creativity of knowing when to use a certain command in a script is more of a right brain activity. I was able to do some of the scripting activities, others I had to do a ton of googling without really understanding why something worked.

    I haven't tried any Python in the past month or so, because I was getting discouraged.

    If I were learning a programming language for the first time, I'd probably really struggle with learning by a video series alone. Too many concepts skipped.

    I spent basically 1 year, ever so slowly working through a college computer science textbook on Java to get the fundamentals down. I've abandoned Java, but going through that helped enormously in picking up other programming languages like Python. The class lectures weren't much help and I learned probably 90% from the textbook alone.

    If I may, I suggest ditching the video courses that skip many fundamental concepts and get a college textbook on intro to programming or computer science. Something thick but well written -- like 500+ pages so you get a solid deep dive.
    Something like "Introduction to Programming Using Python" by Y. Daniel Ling. That one is from 2013, so you can get it practically for free with no college textbook racketeering prices for a textbook currently being assigned as class reading material.
    A+, Network+, CCNA, LFCS,
    Security+, eJPT, CySA+, PenTest+,
    Cisco CyberOps, GCIH, VHL,
    In progress: OSCP
  • chrisonechrisone Member Posts: 2,278 ■■■■■■■■■□
    NoStarch has great python material. Don't forget "courses" come in books as well.

    Python Crash Course - Is a great book.

    Serious Python - Seems to be promising, I pre-ordered this book.

    Automate the boring stuff - looks to have good nuggets.

    BlackHat Python - If you are into security, this is a must have.
    Certs: CISSP, EnCE, OSCP, CRTP, eCTHPv2, eCPPT, eCIR, LFCS, CEH, SPLK-1002, SC-200, SC-300, AZ-900, AZ-500, VHL:Advanced+
    2023 Cert Goals: SC-100, eCPTX
  • SaltyHashesSaltyHashes Member Posts: 33 ■■■□□□□□□□
    After you have gotten the hang of Python, consider taking Microsoft's MTA certification - Introduction to Programming Using Python:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-98-381.aspx
  • NavyMooseCCNANavyMooseCCNA Member Posts: 544 ■■■■□□□□□□
    yoba222 wrote: »
    If I were learning a programming language for the first time, I'd probably really struggle with learning by a video series alone. Too many concepts skipped.

    I spent basically 1 year, ever so slowly working through a college computer science textbook on Java to get the fundamentals down. I've abandoned Java, but going through that helped enormously in picking up other programming languages like Python. The class lectures weren't much help and I learned probably 90% from the textbook alone.

    If I may, I suggest ditching the video courses that skip many fundamental concepts and get a college textbook on intro to programming or computer science. Something thick but well written -- like 500+ pages so you get a solid deep dive.
    Something like "Introduction to Programming Using Python" by Y. Daniel Ling. That one is from 2013, so you can get it practically for free with no college textbook racketeering prices for a textbook currently being assigned as class reading material.
    I found an "economy" version of Ling's book on Amazon for very short money. The PDF of the text book I saw look quite detailed. Thank you for the recommendation.

    'My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly' Winston Churchil

  • NavyMooseCCNANavyMooseCCNA Member Posts: 544 ■■■■□□□□□□
    chrisone wrote: »
    NoStarch has great python material. Don't forget "courses" come in books as well.

    Python Crash Course - Is a great book.

    Serious Python - Seems to be promising, I pre-ordered this book.

    Automate the boring stuff - looks to have good nuggets.

    BlackHat Python - If you are into security, this is a must have.
    I have a copy of "Blackhat Python" I haven't done a deep dive on it. I'm sure I will get into it while studying for the PenTest+ exam.

    'My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly' Winston Churchil

  • A10A10 Member Posts: 9 ■■■□□□□□□□
  • mzx380mzx380 Member Posts: 453 ■■■■□□□□□□
    chrisone wrote: »
    NoStarch has great python material. Don't forget "courses" come in books as well.

    Python Crash Course - Is a great book.

    Serious Python - Seems to be promising, I pre-ordered this book.

    Automate the boring stuff - looks to have good nuggets.

    BlackHat Python - If you are into security, this is a must have.

    I would love to get your take on these books. Would really like to be more fluent in Python but I'm more of an intermediate script-er than a programmer. Any book to help as a starting point for my learning would be appreciated.
    Certifications: ITIL, ACA, CCNA, Linux+, VCP-DCV, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM
    Currently Working On: Microsoft 70-761 (SQL Server)
  • STANLY_CCSTANLY_CC Member Posts: 338 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Stanly CC now offers PROGRAMMING ESSENTIALS WITH PYTHON through the Cisco Networking Academy.  Classes start May 22.  See our IT Academy webpage at https://www.stanly.edu/it-academy





  • SpiegelSpiegel Member Posts: 322 ■■■■■□□□□□
    STANLY_CC said:
    Stanly CC now offers PROGRAMMING ESSENTIALS WITH PYTHON through the Cisco Networking Academy.  Classes start May 22.  See our IT Academy webpage at https://www.stanly.edu/it-academy





    Found that class on NetAcad and started working through the modules. Glad this is being offered for free.
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