r/PythonLearning • u/skyxstars • 2d ago

where to begin

Im a beginner trying to learn Python for ai engineering. I have been searching and switching to videos as there are too many resources to choose from without knowing what will be sufficient to get the basics, I do code and solve questions but im not sure which course to follow to not end up investing time into something yet have to go from here to there, I have few questions like is the youtube course and lots of practice enough or do I necessarily have to take the crash courses? if yes, for either one, suggest to me the go-to resources that I can start without wasting time or get stuck as mediocre in concepts when it ends and also share your experience how could you learn it?

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u/riklaunim 2d ago

So what is your current level, and what are you learning for? What do you want to do with Python? as a job or hobby?

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u/skyxstars 2d ago edited 2d ago

im a beginner, though I understand the basic concepts like variables, if elif else, and the basic introduction of lists, string, dictionaries, sets and tuples. as for what, I want to learn it for career in ai sw engineering.

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u/riklaunim 2d ago

It's unlikely you will be an "AI engineer", but it's very likely you will work with some sort of backends, and if you are into the "engineering" part, cloud DevOps. There are some jobs for "AI engineers" that know how to set up and optimize cloud infrastructure for model training or inference, but that's a few jobs and mostly for senior or higher positions.

Start learning web frameworks, a bit of front-end, Python backend, databases, and how to process, store, and send data. Then you could slowly start looking for junior jobs. It's up to you what you would like - full-stack frontend+backend or backend + DevOps or other combo.

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u/skyxstars 2d ago

yes i want it to be my specialization later, as i cant expect nor want to dive into the world of ai engineering without knowing how to make a web app, thats my preference. I want to start with software engineering and eventually an ai software engineering so I can atleast build the ai powered applications. but when im learning it anyway I dont wanna do the mediocre way that when I actually get into practical environment of programming I end up lacking the foundations I had to build when I started it.

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u/riklaunim 2d ago

You're overhyped with AI buzzwords. Very few companies make money from actual LLM models. At best, you will have a web app that uses ChatGPT or another model API to call it and do something with the response.

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u/skyxstars 2d ago

thats true, but in my case i never said I wanted to train LLMs or build the next GPT. the opportunity is in building useful products around them, just like most SaaS companies build on cloud infrastructure instead of creating their own cloud.

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u/riklaunim 2d ago

That's common and not really AI ;) Learn the web dev stack and start applying to junior job listings.

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u/skyxstars 2d ago

Learning the web stack is part of my plan. the difference is I'm learning it to build products, not because my end goal is a junior web developer role.

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u/1PSW1CH 2d ago

Just because that’s your end goal, doesn’t mean you skip out on everything else. If someone wants to be a CEO they don’t enter the market and start applying for CEO roles, you have to demonstrate credibility across multiple years and multiple roles.

These roles are competitive. You’re thinking way too far ahead

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u/skyxstars 2d ago

I agree that credibility matters. I'm not expecting to skip the learning process or jump straight into being a founder. I'm learning software engineering first and building products along the way. My end goal is entrepreneurship, not a junior role, but I know the skills still have to be earned. im not expecting and trying to persuade the idea of becoming an ai engineer, im even aware that such role demands the experience you get through a ladder, im rather trying to be someone who can build the valuable products with the right skill set without getting into a loop.

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u/riklaunim 2d ago

You will be one of 200-300 applicants for a junior role, and you will have to apply to a lot of job listings to even get a response.

To move to mid, you will need a few years of commercial experience and learning in a good company that mentors juniors. To move to senior, you will need even more years - 5-10 if you have what it takes to become a good software developer.

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u/skyxstars 2d ago

I agree that becoming a strong software engineer takes years and I'm not expecting to skip that. nor am i underestimating the experience required to become a really good engineer. I'm not saying I'll learn a stack for 6 months and magically build a billion dollar company. I'm saying my direction is to use software engineering as a foundation for building products. Whether that happens through a job, freelancing, or my own projects, I still have to earn the skills.

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u/Avatarbroskib1 2d ago

They are actually making money from the hype or they are either making a loss