How to use this course

Who this is for

You have never written a line of code, or you tried once and got lost. That is exactly who this course is written for. If you already know another programming language, you can move faster, but do not skip the exercises.

How the lessons work

Every lesson follows the same shape:

1. Goal. One sentence about what you will be able to do afterwards.
2. Explanation. Short, with examples.
3. Try it. Code for you to type and run yourself.
4. Exercises. Practice tasks, easiest first.
5. Solutions. Hidden until you click, so you can attempt them first.

Type the code, don't copy it

Typing code by hand feels slow, but it is the fastest way to learn. Your fingers remember the patterns. Copy and paste only when you are checking your own version against the lesson.

What you need

• A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• Python installed. The next page shows how.
• A text editor. We recommend Visual Studio Code, which is free.

How long does it take?

Plan for about one lesson per day. Most people finish the core modules in six to eight weeks spending 20 to 30 minutes a day. Going slower is fine. Going faster is fine too.

When you get stuck

Getting stuck is normal and is part of learning. When it happens:

1. Read the error message. Python's errors usually tell you the line number and what went wrong.
2. Re-read the lesson section the exercise came from.
3. Peek at the solution, then close it and try again from memory.

Ready? Install Python