A basic guide to Python programming language

Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced programmer, learning Python is one the best decisions you could make in this age of Artificial Intelligence. And the best part? It’s fairly easy to learn the language and create amazing things with it.

This article provides a simple blueprint of what to expect and how to go about every stage of learning Python. But first…

Why should you learn Python?

For starters, this is one of the easiest programming languages you can learn today. This cuts across every aspect from installation to the compilation of code.

But that’s not all; it has remained one of the top three most in-demand skills since 2018. In fact, most reputable IT companies are now demanding it as a basic requirement when hiring programmers. As such, learning it not only equips you with rare abilities but also increases your chances of securing top-paying employment.

Python is a high-level language that you can use to develop any type of software regardless of its complexity. To begin programming, you need to install the interpreter which you can find on the official website. Simply search “python installer” on Google and open the official website that pops up.

The process is similar to installing any other .exe file and should take you only a few minutes. To check if the software has already been installed, fire up your command prompt and type “Python”. Some texts should popup showing the version on your PC. You should see 3 greater-than signs (>>>) to indicate you can now start coding!

Where to start learning

Before anything else, let us get a few terms out of the way. In most of the online training resources, you will find terms such as code execution, linking, and compiling. Code execution simply means to run the code after writing. Linking is the process of linking the necessary resources used in the code such as libraries. Compiling is the final process where the different parts of your program will be put together to produce a single execution file. However, do not worry as you do not need to understand these from day one.

Besides, you can download an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Pycharm or Visual Studio to handle most of this work for you.

Like anything else, there are lots of free tutorials on the web for learning Python. For example, Python For Beginners is a great website for anyone looking to improve their coding skills. They go into details on topics such as list comprehensions in Python, syntax basics and how to use comments.

You can also speed things up a bit by taking structured training and courses on sites such as MasterClass and Udemy.

Career opportunities for Python programmers

One piece of advice we like giving to new coders is to avoid being too hard on themselves trying to learn everything about a language. Even professionals working for global brands such as Google and Facebook rarely know these languages in their entirety.

So just start and continue learning more as you go. Once you’re comfortable with your skills or have something to show it for, you may consider monetizing this knowledge.

The Internet provides thousands of opportunities for programmers today. A few places to target include becoming a:

• Data scientist
• Software developer
• Software engineer
• Python developer/trainer
• Data analyst
• Product manager
• Research analyst

Programming is a highly lucrative career that earns yearly salaries starting from around $50,000 to $110,000 or more depending on the position. You could also strike gold with a SaaS project for example and join the enviable world of IT billionaires.

How to practice your coding skills

When it comes to programming, you must keep practicing and stay abreast with what’s happening in the industry to remain relevant. And what a better way to do this than by putting your coding skills into regular practice?

You need to code as frequently as possible. Look for little repetitive tasks that take a lot of your time to execute and solve with a code. This can be anything including keeping records of your expenditure, validating emails, or engaging followers on social media.

Alternatively, you could sign up for a user account on websites that offer programming challenges such as CodeWars or HackerRank and compete with other programmers. Python’s official website also provides numerous problems you could solve.

Now is your turn!

At this point, it’s safe to say you’re now equipped with a sound strategy to learn the Python language. The only thing that remains now is for you to execute parts of this process one step at a time until you become the programmer you wish to be. You got this!