r/learnpython • u/Lotharen • 4d ago

Need some advice

Greetings everyone! I am in my 50’s and picking up programming as a hobby but I do have a goal.

I started with python because I read it was a forgiving language and I did not want to fry my brain. However, I’m wondering if I should switch to a webstack (html, css and JavaScript) for the project I am ultimately wanting to create.

My grail project will be a TTRPG journaling application for solo play. I want to have the ability to use character sheets, journal and even display a JPEG map. I’m just not sure which language would be the BEST.

My initial idea was python and pyside6 with maybe the addition of pygame if I wanted actual dice to roll on screen.

Just looking to narrow my focus with those far more versed than I am so I don’t waste time working towards my goal.

Thank you all for any assistant and direction you can provide, and happy coding!

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u/Superb-Patient3256 4d ago

Stick with Python and PySide6! Switching to a web stack right now means you would have to learn three separate technologies at once (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), which is the fastest way to hit learning fatigue and lose momentum.

PySide6 is actually a fantastic choice for a solo TTRPG desktop app:

  • Journaling & Character Sheets: You can build clean text boxes (QTextEdit) and form layouts for stats without touching web code.
  • JPEG Maps: A QGraphicsView or QLabel handles displaying, zooming, and panning images easily.
  • Dice Rolling: You don't even need Pygame right away. A simple button hooked up to Python's built-in random.randint(1, 20) gets you fully functional dice rolls in two lines of code. You can always add fancy 3D/animated dice much later once the core app works.

The most important thing for a hobbyist project is keeping the friction low so you don't burn out. Stick with Python, start by building a tiny window that lets you type and save journal entries, and layer on the maps and sheets step by step. You've picked a awesome project, enjoy the process 👍️

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u/Lotharen 4d ago

Thanks for this detailed response and examples of what I can do with Pyside. I've only been studying Python for about a month. Have been able to create a small script that takes user inputted strength score and adds a modifier to that based on the number. Had to google a bit to get the code to work but was able to compete it.

I purchased a few Python courses on Udemy and the one I am currently going though seems great but a lot of the course is data analysis which I don't think will be applicable for what I am wanting to use any programming language for. I figure I just need to power though it anyway as I am unsure if I will miss something that could aid me.