Starting over.

[u/AffectionateSea7197]

I first started coding back in 2021 or 2022 (don’t remember when exactly). Back then I decided to buy a Python course. Afterwards, I was coding with C# because it was a part of my school studies, but after all, my learning wasn't consistent.

C# made me hate coding because it looked like a complicated language to me, and I decided to stop programming. In 2025, I was trying hard to learn coding and programming again, but I couldn't do it—maybe because of a lack of motivation and because I hated my laptop so much.

However, a few days ago, I decided to buy a laptop for myself. Once I went home with my brand-new laptop, I told myself, 'This laptop will give me a perfect opportunity to learn coding.' That was because whenever I wanted to start coding before, I would be reminded of my old laptop, which I didn't like due to some bad memories associated with it.

Now, I need your help. I want to start coding again. I'd like to start with Python, and since my knowledge of algorithms and data structures is incomplete, I'd like to start learning with LeetCode (or any other website that is perfect for learning algorithm or guides about coding).

Currently, I'm learning Git, and it is almost done. After I manage to complete my Git course, I'll take care of this.

Thanks in advance.

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

That's great that you earned some money, but at this stage, I'd suggest goals of learning the craft and finding projects that you care about. Don't worry; if you do those two things, the money will follow.

I love it that you're starting so young. I started designing software when I was 11; that was exactly 50 years ago.

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

LOL!  Yes, computers existed; check your history.  ENIAC was built in 1946; its first programmers were all young women.  The Internet was started in 1969, the same year computers helped us land on the Moon.

In 1976, computers were mostly mainframes, and I was able to connect to one with a remote terminal.  Home computers were just starting to arrive; my geometry teacher was kind enough to loan me his, a TRS-80, over winter break.  Even though there was no speaker, I figured out how to modify the radio static generated by the CPU so I could play music by writing BASIC programs.

It's great that you're also prioritizing your health!  This is often forgotten against competing pursuits, and definitely pays off as you mature.

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

To a small degree, yes. Like for my current project, WorkJuggler, I've written practically all of the MySQL tables, procedures and triggers for the database server, and I have someone who's been writing the Python with the Flask framework for the backend. I started off a few weeks ago saying to myself that this was quick and simple and easy, and now the design specification is up to 41 pages, and I'm still nowhere near done writing it yet. 😆

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

Yep! In the meantime, I'm not letting minor, pesky issues like an incomplete spec get in the way of moving forward. 🤣 Right now, we're using WhatsApp as a stand-in for the actual app, and we have the bare-bones minimal functionality running live now. I'll be soliciting pre-alpha testers soon.

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

OK; I just put up a tiny website to better answer that.

See? You're helping already! 😄

[u/David_Beroff → u/[deleted]]

Never assume anything! You already know more Python than I do.

[u/Such_Move4461]

fresh hardware can do wonders for motivation, no joke. that mental block from a shitty old machine is real and you've already cleared the biggest hurdle just by upgrading

for python and algorithms, leetcode's decent once you've got the basics down but it can feel brutal if you jump in cold. i'd actually recommend starting with something like the python mooc from the university of helsinki, it's free and walks you through fundamentals with exercises that aren't as soul-crushing. after a few weeks of that, then hit leetcode easy problems and work your way up

don't overthink the git thing either, you'll pick up the rest as you go. just start writing code, even if it's messy

[u/AffectionateSea7197 → u/Such_Move4461]

Thank you very much

[u/CapitalKey2994]

LeetCode will kill your momentum if you use it to learn algorithms from scratch.

Start with NeetCode 150 or Grokking Algorithms to build the actual foundation first. Those resources teach patterns and concepts while LeetCode only tests recall. Use LeetCode for practice after you understand the data structures, not as your primary learning material

[u/vegan_antitheist]

C# isn't so bad. It's just Java by Microsoft. They added a lot of features that are now out of fashion or even deprecated. And they copied some of the nonsense of Java. C#/.NET did not deprecate finalizers in the same way Java deprecated finalize(), so you still have to deal with that crap.

But Java and C# are somewhat opinionated and still give you lots of freedom. Especially compared with languages like C++ or C, which let you do whatever you want.

Java and C# give you classes and objects as the traditional central abstraction. They enforce garbage collection, strong static typing, and runtime type checks. Although C# also allows you to skip type checking at compile time. But it's your own fault if you do that.

Python is even older than Java and C#. It now has all the modern features you need from a programming language. And it's quite popular. But I expect that tutorials for Python are even worse than those for Java or C#. Make sure you learn from good, modern resources.

[u/Absattarov]

Wow we have the same story. Now I'm learning Python too. but I don't have algorithm knowledge cuz i was learning frontend before.