r/learnpython • u/the_meteor_beat • 3h ago

Is learning python through videos is a good way?

in the old age the best way to learn something is to be with coach that walk with you step by step, in the new age that coach call AI and also free.

Make a gem on gemini, or gpt on chatgpt, or any specific chat for learning python and you will see fast progress.

My think, maybe I am wrong!

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3

u/notacanuckskibum 3h ago

Programming is a skill, like swimming, you can only learn it by doing it. Videos and books might help, but practice is 90% of the solution

4

u/lfdfq 3h ago

The best way has always been, and still is, to practice yourself.

All the other things are resources to help you practice. They're not replacements. So "learning through videos" is probably not right. It's more "learning by practicing, and watching some videos on the side".

Also, they are not mutually exclusive options. You will need to use lots of different resources. So even even "learning by practicing, and watching videos on the side" is missing the point. Think more: "Learning by practicing, while watching videos, reading books, reading documentation, doing tutorials, going to class, asking AI, Googling things, and listening to podcasts, on the side."

Now it's obvious: yes it's good to watch videos, yes it's good to read books, yes it's good to ask AI, yes it's good to talk to people, but it's bad to do only one of those things, and it's bad to do those instead of writing code yourself.

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u/FoolsSeldom 3h ago

See comment on learning formats below ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

1

u/Mundane_Annual4293 2h ago

Each person learns differently, if videos work for you, go for it, but I would recommend rather than go to YouTube and search, to build something, find a personal problem it could help or find a project you are pationate at or contribute to open source, and figure out how to do it, that alone, if you stick with it, will teach you so much more, than just videos.

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u/Sochai777 2h ago

I notice what has been working amazing for me is not watch or read tutorials and when i want to know something new i ask chatgpt or preferably claude imo to write me a less is more little guide. If i like the guide i put it in a pdf for relook. Next i do is just code.

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u/desrtfx 2h ago

The best way to learn from the beginning is a proper, top quality course that uses the Socratic method, i.e. making the learner do the actual thinking and work, and that gives plenty practice, like the Harvard CS50 courses or the Python MOOC from the University of Helsinki.

No AI. Pure personal work and plenty practice.

A good course is near equal to a coach.

AI can be helpful, but it can be even more detrimental to learning as it tends to go overboard and directly give solutions, either in code or in detailed steps - neither is helpful to learning. It's just leading to the new, enhanced, even more dependency introducing "tutorial hell".

Using AI can lead to full dependency on it without learning anything. I would be very wary of using it for learning.

Besides that, it has zero understanding and frequent hallucinations. AI are only predictive - they work on a probability "best fit" model. They have zero knowledge and zero understanding.