Hi all! I am looking for the best way to start learning Python from scratch. What path do you suggest?
There's probably a udemy course but you could always just come up with an idea, ask chat how to code it, then read the code, look up the functions etc and learn the syntax, then close the code, and write your own version. That's essentially what we did 30 years ago, we'd see code examples then apply them to our own projects, making changes, mistakes and learning lots.
Honestly the format doesn't matter much — 40 hours of video, a book, or a few solid articles, whatever actually keeps you going. Pick what fits how you learn. What makes it stick: once you've got the basics, build something you'll actually use yourself. It doesn't have to be original or clever — a small script that fixes one of your own annoyances. When it's something you genuinely need, you'll finish it, and that's where the real learning happens.
Learning Python in 2026 is fundamentally different from a few years ago. You no longer need to spend months memorizing syntax or algorithms—AI models like ChatGPT or Claude can generate that instantly. Today, efficiency is all about AI co-piloting and logical architecture. Here is the fastest, most practical framework to master Python this year: 1. Shift Your Focus: Code Literacy Over Syntax Don't waste time trying to remember every single method or loop syntax. Instead, learn how to read code and understand the logic. Your goal is to know what is possible so you can accurately prompt an AI to write it for you, and then debug it when it breaks. 2. The 3-Step Core Stack Spend no more than 2 weeks on the basics (variables, functions, lists, dictionaries). Then immediately jump into these high-utility modules: requests & json: To connect to APIs and fetch data. BeautifulSoup & nodriver: For next-gen web scraping and browser automation without getting blocked. asyncio: Because speed is everything, and modern Python relies heavily on asynchronous programming. 3. Reverse-Engineer Your Learning (Project-First) Do not take generic 40-hour courses. Pick a boring, repetitive task you do every day and try to automate it. Example: Write a script that checks your website for 404 errors and sends a Telegram alert. Break the project into micro-tasks, use AI to generate the code snippets, study how they connect, and assemble the puzzle. 4. Master Prompting for Developers The ultimate superpower for a beginner in 2026 is knowing how to talk to AI. When asking an LLM for code, always specify: The exact libraries you want to use (e.g., "Write this using modern nodriver, not Selenium"). The error handling requirements. A request for line-by-line comments so you can learn why the code works. The Golden Rule: The market doesn't pay for Python syntax knowledge anymore; it pays for working automation tools. Stop reading tutorials and start building your first bot today!
Don't get stuck in tutorial hell. Find a real-world task you actually care about, write code daily to build the habit, and pair that with official Big Tech courses (Google/Meta/Microsoft) or structured internship tracks. Solving real issues on a daily basis is where the actual learning happens.
Why would you want to learn something like Python? Just let ai write the code and and you read it if interests you enough..