I have difficulty in learning programming. How do I start?
Venkatesh Chellappa
Bioinformatics | AI | ML | Precision Medicine | Genomics | Cloud | Teaching
Learning a new programming language like Python can seem daunting at first, but with the right approach, you can make steady progress and start building useful programs in no time.
This guide will hold your hands and help you overcome the fear of programming. You can use this approach to learn any language like perl, shell, R, java, javascript or SQL. I will take python as an example and explain the steps.
Here are some steps to get started with learning Python:
Understand the basics: Before you start writing any code, it's important to understand the fundamentals of programming. This includes concepts such as variables, data types, control structures (if/else statements, loops), and functions. There are many online resources and tutorials that can help you learn these concepts.
Set up your development environment: To write and run Python code, you'll need a code editor and a Python interpreter installed on your computer. There are many different code editors and IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) available, such as PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, and Sublime Text. You can download the Python interpreter from the official Python website.
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Practice, practice, practice: The best way to learn programming is by doing it. I cannot stress enough the power of repetition!!!! Dedicate 10-20 minutes every day exclusively to do this. I would say the more the merrier! If you can spend about 1-2 hours everyday, then I can guarantee you that not just Python, any programming language is easy to grasp! However it is also extremely important to stay consistent in your practice. You cannot have cheat days or cheat weeks. Start by writing simple programs, such as a program that prints "Hello, World!" to the screen. Then, gradually work your way up to more complex programs that incorporate the concepts you've learned. #practicemakesprogress
Learn from examples: One of the great things about Python is that there are many code examples available online. You can find examples of almost anything you want to do with Python, from simple scripts to full-blown web applications. Try to download simple scripts from the internet, recreate them, run them on your computer, change each and every line in them and see how it changes the behaviour of the script, changes in output and also the errors that arise. Reading and analyzing code examples can help you understand how Python works and give you ideas for your own programs.
Join a community: There are many online communities dedicated to Python programming. Joining a community can be a great way to get help with programming questions, find resources and tutorials, and connect with other Python developers.
Remember that learning a programming language takes time and patience. Don't get discouraged if you don't understand everything right away. Keep practicing and asking questions, and you'll make progress before you know it. Good luck!