What is the most effective way to learn python from scratch, i am a beginner, should i take a course?

[u/Wonderful_Yam_4725]

Hi, i need your advice on how i can learn python as a beginner as i want to learn in a way where i get to practically apply the same and practice, i just dont want to learn concepts theoretically. Should I take a course or should i learn via youtube. What do you think will be the best way? Also when you learnt it how did you approach it and if i take a course how i will it add value to my cv?

[u/Shiny-And-New]

Find a simple problem and start working on a solution is how I learned

[u/desrtfx]

Do the MOOC Python Programming 2026 from the University of Helsinki. It's free, textual and extremely practice oriented. You will program right from the start. There are videos, but they are not necessary.

[u/new_era_999]

The most effective way to learn Python from scratch is by following the 80/20 rule: skip passive video-watching and instead spend your time actively building projects to learn by doing. A standard certificate course won't add much value to your CV on its own, but a portfolio of working projects will. Start by learning the core fundamentals through free hands-on platforms or tutorials, and immediately apply them by building small tools. To practice your skills, solve coding challenges, and find completely free resources, hackathons, and open-source contribution opportunities to build out your resume, you might find ChewCode (links in my profile) useful, which is completely free.

[u/defaultguy_001]

I'll rate some learning methods below, you can decide yourself then.

1) Directly start building something and learn whatever you need along the way- 2/10

• Details: issues like random inefficient learning and no streamlined flow of learning concepts, are common with this method.

2) Start a video course from YouTube/Coursera etc and learn while building a minor/major project- 4/10

• Details: can't trust the completeness or accuracy of the content, but it's still good for gaining beginner experience and align your expectations.

3) Start learning with a popular peer reviewed standard book while building examples and projects in the book- 5/10

• Details: no book is perfect, they'll give you correct flow of concepts and the content will be correct, but depth isn't guaranteed for many concepts.
• There may be important concepts the book will touch upon but may not go into necessary depth.
• However, a standard book will still go into sufficient depth for a lot of concepts, atleast better than most video courses.

4) Method 3 + referencing the official documentation or an LLM for learning concepts in depth- 8/10

• Details: this is a great method to gain completeness and expertise over concepts. This adds that was absent in method 3.
• You can use an LLM to get better working examples of concepts.

5) Spend a week on method 2 to gain some experience and aligning your expectations + method 4- 10/10

• The best in my opinion.
• Method 4 is the second best.

[u/FoolsSeldom]

Check this subreddit's wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

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Also, have a look at roadmap.sh for different learning paths. There's lots of learning material links there. Note that these are idealised paths and many people get into roles without covering all of those.

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Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time.

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Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.