Learning Python

jimbo45 · Jul 22, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
No offense, but I find videos a terrible way to learn most things. They're great for showing something like how to crack and obscure laptop for a battery change and the like. However, for something like learning a computer language, I personally think that's a poor way to do it.

@MisterEd

Nice one !!!!! --might get that myself.

On Youtube Video learning I 100% agree with @gunrunnerjohn !.

Videos are great when I need to "get inside a laptop" or learn how to fit new line into a grass strimmer machine or assemble one of those legendary I.K.E.A flat packs - but for things like computer languages (e,g python), install complex software packages, master complex spreadsheets etc I prefer "paper and pencil" method - where it's simple to pause, go back, make notes, etc etc.

Hint here to anybody making YouTube instructional videos - Please - no background music (except obviously if teaching how to play a musical instrument !!) and speak slowly - assume your audience have learning disabilities --it's not a question of understanding the language it's just people don't realize how fast they speak when doing a video.

I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE those videos that have unnecessary background "Music (??)" in them too --it's pointless, distracting and usually the so called music sounds worse than 3 giant JCB's digging together preparing the sjte for a new motorway (freeway) bridge etc.

Cheers

jimbo

z3r010 · Jul 22, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
No offense, but I find videos a terrible way to learn most things. They're great for showing something like how to crack and obscure laptop for a battery change and the like. However, for something like learning a computer language, I personally think that's a poor way to do it.

I find videos the easiest way of learning, reading text from a page just doesn't sink in.

antspants · Jul 22, 2025

If I watch someone do something, especially if they're next to me, I can absorb most things. I watched a guy write html in notepad for 3 days and was building websites on the 4th. Then on to the W3Schools website to pinch code snippets.

jimbo45 · Jul 22, 2025

z3r010 said:
I find videos the easiest way of learning, reading text from a page just doesn't sink in.

Could be an age related thing -- older people probably used to Old classroom ways -- I agree for mechanical stuff like opening computer cases etc / fiddling around with cars / motor bikes etc videos are great but still prefer the old school way with non mechanical or technical stuff e.g software install / programming /etc.
@antspants

If you've got someone next to you it's easy to ask them to stop / redo stuff / explain what they are doing etc. With a video it's messy re-winding, re-starting etc and some of those Youtube videos make you go through a whole slew of commercials again before they re-start .

Cheers
jimbo

FreeBooter · Jul 22, 2025

This book is good for learning Python.

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python - Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

A Page in : Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

automatetheboringstuff.com

Amazon.com

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 22, 2025

z3r010 said:
I find videos the easiest way of learning, reading text from a page just doesn't sink in.

So there really is different ways of learning! I learned the computer languages I used from books and hands-on experience. Normally, a new computer language was tackled because I had to use it.

I worked on the development of the Univac BC/7 small-business computer. I learned Fortran because Intel wrote the first 8080 simulator in Fortran and I had to integrate their CPU simulator into a whole machine simulator with display, printer, card readers, floppy disks, etc. We were developing software for the BC/7 before we had hardware to run it on, so I wrote a complete emulator that was running on the Univac 1108.

I can't even imagine learning a new computer language from a video. Different strokes for different folks, I guess we really all are different.

Br0die · Jul 22, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
So there really is different ways of learning! I learned the computer languages I used from books and hands-on experience. Normally, a new computer language was tackled because I had to use it.

I worked on the development of the Univac BC/7 small-business computer. I learned Fortran because Intel wrote the first 8080 simulator in Fortran and I had to integrate their CPU simulator into a whole machine simulator with display, printer, card readers, floppy disks, etc. We were developing software for the BC/7 before we had hardware to run it on, so I wrote a complete emulator that was running on the Univac 1108.

I can't even imagine learning a new computer language from a video. Different strokes for different folks, I guess we really all are different.

Good to hear from an old Univac guy. I worked on the hardware side with Univac from 1964-1987. a small list of the systems I worked on, File Computer, 1004, 1050III, 9300, 9400, 1106, 1160, 1180, 1190, EMR, Varian, and I'm sure I missed some.

neemobeer · Jul 22, 2025

Lots of good comments. I would agree with picking a style that works for you to learn. Books have the advantage of more easily allowing you to stop and apply what you are learning, videos can sometime be easier to digest and often do a better job of explaining concepts.

If you you want videos I would recommend this course

100 Days of Code™: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp

Welcome to the 100 Days of Code - The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp, the only course you need to learn to code with Python. With over 500,000 5 STAR reviews and a 4.8 average, my courses are some of the HIGHEST RATED courses in the history of Udemy...

www.udemy.com

For a beginners book

Amazon.com

Python works on most operating systems so you don't need a different system. Don't hesitate to go off on a tangent if you have an idea while learning. Writing python is the best for learning IMO.

Having a good IDE can help debug code if you get unexpected results.
VSCode works really well and is free

Jetbrains is really really good for python but costs money.

Lastly I would learn about pip (python package installer) and virtual environments they're useful and important in python development (venv or virtualenv)

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 22, 2025

WOW, never saw VSCode before, pretty cool. I've always used the manufacturer's IDE. I've used PIC processors for years for my embedded systems, so I am using Microchip's MPLAB-X. For Arduino, I use the Arduino IDE.

TraderGary · Jul 22, 2025

I sometimes use VSCode, but if you like the full IDE experience, Visual Studio is more than capable.

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 22, 2025

TraderGary said:
I sometimes use VSCode, but if you like the full IDE experience, Visual Studio is more than capable.

For the PIC processors, I'm pretty vested in MPLAB-X. I also have the hardware development tools so I can run on the actual hardware and use the full debugging toolset. Many of my projects use the small 8-pin PIC processors, so I use the processor specific debug headers for full access to the actual hardware environment during development. I probably can't do that with VSCode.

Tasmania Green · Jul 22, 2025

neemobeer said:
Lots of good comments. I would agree with picking a style that works for you to learn. Books have the advantage of more easily allowing you to stop and apply what you are learning, videos can sometime be easier to digest and often do a better job of explaining concepts.

If you you want videos I would recommend this course

100 Days of Code™: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp

Welcome to the 100 Days of Code - The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp, the only course you need to learn to code with Python. With over 500,000 5 STAR reviews and a 4.8 average, my courses are some of the HIGHEST RATED courses in the history of Udemy...

www.udemy.com

For a beginners book

Amazon.com

Python works on most operating systems so you don't need a different system. Don't hesitate to go off on a tangent if you have an idea while learning. Writing python is the best for learning IMO.

Having a good IDE can help debug code if you get unexpected results.
VSCode works really well and is free

Jetbrains is really really good for python but costs money.

Lastly I would learn about pip (python package installer) and virtual environments they're useful and important in python development (venv or virtualenv)

I agree, remover. I Ike using books primarily. Especially e-books since I can take them anywhere. And videos are great when words aren’t clear enough. I’ll check out the video you mention. But, yes, actually doing something is the best way for me to learn something. I forgot that Python would need an IE. Thanks, TraderGary, for recommending VSCode and Visual Studio. I looked at is briefly once and noticed it has a lot did add-ons. Which ones do I choose?

Catnip recommended programming a raspberry pi. That sounds fun. I’m looking on Amazon’s now.

lffoar · Jul 22, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
Does anyone have suggestions for how I can learn Python?

You can learn about them at a zoo but catching them is a buggar

MisterEd · Jul 22, 2025

I installed Python into the following folder:
C:\Programs\Python\

After I installed Python I installed Thonny into Python

Script to install Thonny:
C:\Programs\Python\Scripts\pip install thonny

Script to update Thonny:
C:\Programs\Python\Scripts\pip install -U thonny

Doing it this way you will have the latest version of Python and Thonny.

At the Python website they have a free tutorial

The Python 3.10 Tutorial

The Python 3.13 Tutorial

You can also download many of the documents as PDFs including the tutorial.

Download Python 3.13 documentation

MisterEd · Jul 22, 2025

jimbo45 said:
@MisterEd

Nice one !!!!! --might get that myself.

I have three Raspberry Pis. I can even access all of them at the same time from my Windows 11 laptop.

Tasmania Green · Jul 22, 2025

MisterEd said:
I have three Raspberry Pis. I can even access all of them at the same time from my Windows 11 laptop.

View attachment 140189

Thanks MisterEd!

Can you recommend a way to connect the Raspberry Pi to my computer monitor? I’m going to get a Raspberry Pi 5.

MisterEd · Jul 22, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
Thanks MisterEd!

Can you recommend a way to connect the Raspberry Pi to my computer monitor? I’m going to get a Raspberry Pi 5.

The Raspberry Pi 5 has two Micro HDMI ports.

You have two choices:
1. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable
2. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter (use with regular HDMI to HDMI cable)

BTW, by default a Raspberry Pi boots from a MicroSD card. I originally booted the Pi 5 that way. Now I boot the Pi 5 from a 64GB flash drive. Some people are even booting the Pi 5 from a M.2 NVME SSD.

Tasmania Green · Jul 23, 2025

Thanks MistetEd!

MisterEd said:
The Raspberry Pi 5 has two Micro HDMI ports.

You have two choices:
1. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable
2. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter (use with regular HDMI to HDMI cable)

View attachment 140199

BTW, by default a Raspberry Pi boots from a MicroSD card. I originally booted the Pi 5 that way. Now I boot the Pi 5 from a 64GB flash drive. Some people are even booting the Pi 5 from a M.2 NVME SSD.

View attachment 140200

Thanks!

I need to pick up a microSD card after work, so I can pick up a cable or adapter as well. I’d like to connect the raspberry pi to the monitor I already have connected to my PC?

MisterEd · Jul 23, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
Thanks MistetEd!

Thanks!

I need to pick up a microSD card after work, so I can pick up a cable or adapter as well. I’d like to connect the raspberry pi to the monitor I already have connected to my PC?

Also, do you also have a wired or wireless keyboard and mouse you can use with the Raspberry Pi 5?

You can buy the microSD card already formatted for the Raspberry Pi 5.
However, you can buy a blank microSD card and set it up yourself. To this you need the following:

MicroSD card (32GB should be big enough to get started)
Way to write the MicroSD card on your PC. (I use a USB to MicroSD card adapter)
Raspberry Pi Imager

Hear are screenshots of some of the steps

Run Raspberry Pi Imager and select each option
CHOOSE DEVICE
CHOOSE OS
CHOOSE STORAGE

Device = Raspberry Pi 5
OS = Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)
Storage = microSD card
Select NEXT

Select EDIT SETTINGS

Select options you want to pre-configure
Select Hostname: network name for the Raspberry Pi 5
Set username and password: username and password to log in
Configure wireless LAN: SSID and password for your wireless network
Select locale setting: Timezone and keyboard layout (ex US)
When done select SAVE

Select YES

Select YES

microSD card will be written to and verified

After a few minutes it will be done

Insert the microSD card in the Raspberry Pi 5
When you power on the Raspberry Pi 5 it should boot
When prompted log in

jimbo45 · Jul 23, 2025

MisterEd said:
The Raspberry Pi 5 has two Micro HDMI ports.

You have two choices:
1. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable
2. Use a Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter (use with regular HDMI to HDMI cable)

View attachment 140199

BTW, by default a Raspberry Pi boots from a MicroSD card. I originally booted the Pi 5 that way. Now I boot the Pi 5 from a 64GB flash drive. Some people are even booting the Pi 5 from a M.2 NVME SSD.

View attachment 140200

@MisterEd

Got one (16GB model) -- it does boot from an SSD type nvme device -- I've got one (1TB) in one of those cuban style usb3 adaptors. These things though are surprisingly fast !!!! (Both the box and the external Nvme stick).

You've found me a lot of things now to "Waste my time on " !!! but these are really fun to play with.
Reminds me of years and years ago when the BBC brought out it's "Micro" designed for very basic home users to assemble themselves etc -- I think that one had a very small 6502 processor and you had to enter code in machine language as hex digits but it was amazing what could be done with that small processor

Acorn BBC Micro Model B - Computer - Computing History

The BBC Microcomputer was launched in December 1981 as part of the BBCs Computer Literacy Project. The BBC Microcomputer was launched in December 1981 as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project...

www.computinghistory.org.uk

I believe the original Voyager space craft (now outside the solar system) used a variant of those things !!! and are still sending data back to earth. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

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