How Long Does it Take to Learn Python? #The Learning Hacks

Python has been considered to be one of the most progressive and influential programming languages ever. It is one of the most extensible and feature-rich programming languages ever. Aimed at helping you resolve a wide range of professional, technical and business problems, it has been one of the best languages ever.

That should bring us to the fundamental question of how long does it take to learn Python? If you are checking out the options of learning syntax, keywords and functions, it should NOT take more than 8 weeks to learn Python. 

Having answered that basic question, let us now move ahead to understand the concept of Python in a little more detail.

What is Python?

Python is a high-level programming language and has been one of the object-oriented languages quite popular enough. You may use it to create applications, web apps, mobile apps and desktop apps as well. First released in 1991, the name of the language was inspired by the comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” . Guido van Rossum, the man behind Python, was a fan of the series.

What makes it one of the best programming languages is the fact that it does not need you to write lengthy codes. The coding is considerably smaller, which would mean you would need to write less code for the same amount of work.  That makes it considerably easy to work with when you compare it to the other languages such as C++, Java or even C#.

Why learn Python?

Python was actually designed for the kids. That is precisely why it was designed with such ease and simplicity. However, the ease of use and simple coding of the language made it grow popular, and it soon developed into a language for all.

Today it finds extensive use in a wide range of industries and application areas that include banking, insurance, healthcare, business services, and marketing – to name a few. In fact, it has grown to be a Go-To language for areas such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. It also finds a wider acceptance among the Data Science professionals. According to Forbes, the annual demand for Data Science professionals is expected to grow by 700,000 openings by 2020.

Those figures should ideally make it one of the prime options to begin learning Python right away. That would perhaps explain why Python has become the first programming language being taught at the top universities providing education in computer sciences. In fact, Python has replaced C and C++ in terms of its popularity and career worthiness.

Demand for Python has been growing at a whopping 456% which should be yet another reason that should prompt you to go in its favour.

One of the prime factors that would make Python a great option is it is highly flexible and can thus work with vast data efficiently enough.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Python?

If you are ready to invest enough time and effort, it should not take more than a couple of months. If you are looking at learning the basics and functions, you should be done learning Python in just around two months. Rest is all about practising as much as you can.

Python, as we already mentioned, is the most natural languages among them all and it is quite easy to learn. If you already have good knowledge of any other programming language, it should take less time than that specified above ideally. After all, all programming languages come with the same features and concepts. The only aspect that differentiates different languages is the way you write the code – or the grammar of the language. That is, the syntax of the language you learn makes all the difference.

If you are aware of any other programming language, you would only need to understand the syntax and how to write the code. This would mean it will take you not more than one month to learn the language. If you are ready to spend at least three to five hours into the task per day, you can definitely master it within a span of one to two months. Of course, you won’t be an expert with just that bit of learning. You will need to continue practising it to become an expert. Once again, you would need to keep working on the language for at least three to five hours per day!

However, if you are entirely new to the programming world, you may need to spend around three months to learn Python. That again, with a consistent practice of at least three to five hours per day.

How Difficult is it to Learn Python?

That question should rather be how easy to learn Python. As we have repeatedly been stating, learning Python indeed quite easy and straightforward. But, you should understand one thing for sure. Learning Python is as easy as and as difficult as learning any programming language.

A few of the concepts in Python are damn easy, and as you get deeper into the concept, you would definitely find it challenging to learn it. Of course, it is comparatively easy to learn than the other competing languages, but it is only COMPARATIVELY easy to learn. If you tend to think about it as a child’s play, we are afraid you are mistaken.

There are a few options that would make it a smarter way to learn Python would involve a few underlying factors. We would call them the Learning Factors for Python. To answer the question of how long does it take to learn Python, you should take into account a host of factors that would facilitate better learning of the language.

However, there are no simple means of explaining those learning factors. It would be dependent on the learning abilities you have in addition to your background. A few of the features worth mentioning would include

Should I Learn Java or Python?

This is one of the huge dilemmas for beginners in a programming language – Should I learn Java or Python? Does the future belong to Java or Python?

Well, that would be a difficult question to answer. To begin with, every programming language is made similar, and they are all designed to handle the same task. As long as you love coding, you will find every language with the same degree of enthusiasm. In any case, anyone making a beginning in a programming language will definitely go in favour of Python. It offers you sheer simplicity and ease of coding.

Should I Learn Python or C++?

That should be yet another common query that new programmers tend to ask – should I learn Python or C++? The debate on Python vs C++ has grown considerably over the years and still remains inconclusive. They do differ substantially in terms of their features – be it simplicity, syntax, overall approach and ease of use.

C++ is a general-purpose language, just like Python. However, Python is a high-level language. That would mean the codes and syntax can be much easy to read and understand. Is Python easier than C++? Well, yes. Python is easy to understand and should be one of the excellent options for beginners. On the other hand, C++ is much more complicated in comparison.

C++ is a low-level language as compared to the high-level Python language. It is more about the syntax rules, and you need to understand the programming conventions to understand it. Python resembles the native English language, and that should make it one of the excellent options.

If you are looking at the application areas, Python is more into machine learning and data analysis. C++ is more about the game developments and similar other larger application areas.

How to Learn Python?

You can learn Python in a host of ways. In fact, there are different avenues that would be helpful enough in letting you learn Python. It would be advisable to check out all the methods to learn Python more comprehensively.

The Online Courses

You can have access to plenty of online courses that would help you learn Python more positively. Of course, you can find both free and premium courses.

A few good resources that can prove to be helpful would include

YouTube Videos

Videos can definitely be the best building blocks for any efficient Python learning course. There are several free videos available over the internet. Almost all of them come with their own plus points and prove their reliability. Make sure you pick the right one based on your liking and learn Python in the best positive manner.

Learn Python the hard way videos

One of the most popular and best videos that we came across when looking for the best study material was Learn Python the hard way videos. Created by Zed Shaw, who is one of the well-known exponents of Python, the video course offers you a completely comprehensive insight into every aspect of Python.

What makes Learn Python the hard way videos a great source of learning is the fact that it makes you DO things than just teaching you how to do it. There is a gradual build-up from the easier steps which move towards more complexity as you move up the ladder.

The course consists of more than five hours of videos to with the book.

Learn Python for Beginners – A Full Course

The course is designed to provide a one-stop solution for all your Python requirements. You will definitely hope to be a Python programmer in practically no time.

Developed by Mike Dane, the course is free and offers you an excellent option with a deeper knowledge in every aspect of the programming language. You would also find a huge number of ideas for exercises.

Books

Books have always been best friends when it comes to learning new concepts. In fact, you should ideally choose such books that help you learn coding with ease so that you can practice each of the exercises and gain an improvement in your confidence level.

A few of the great books on Python that can prove to be helpful would include

The Closing Remarks on learning Python

Python has indeed been a promising language in every aspect. It has been evolving consistently and is factually a building block artificial intelligence. In fact, the growth of artificial intelligence and data sciences has been one of the prime reasons that have made it one of the best options one would focus on as the prime programming language.

If you are wondering how long does it take to learn Python, you can evolve a constant plan and get access to the best experience in mastering the language in a more positive manner. If you are consistent enough, there is nothing that can take away the experience far away.