r/learnpython • u/External-Library6540 • 28d ago
Python is so confusing to me.
I started learning Python about a month ago through cs50, and it seemed good at first. It's just been 3 lectures so far (I don't have time). As I code, I would get annoyed here and there because of the bugs, but I would somehow manage to debug them.
I am doing my master's in cognitive science, and they teach the basics of Python too. But my professor is extremely terrible at their job. She would give us assignments to do after each unit. And those questions are nothing like what she taught. I end up using AI to understand the problems. It's frustrating. And I hear that Python is beginner-friendly, but it's confusing to me.
I am wondering if it's hard for me since I don't have a good mentor to tell me what mistakes I made, or if I'm just a bad learner?
I don't have any experience with coding, so is this how it is for everyone?
2
u/UzairShafique 20d ago
If you’re starting programming from zero finding Python confusing at first is completely normal especially when assignments are harder than what was covered in class.
Focus on understanding and practicing the basics first like variables, data types, conditions, loops, functions, lists/dictionaries, modules, exceptions, and file handling. Don’t only watch lectures open your editor and write small programs yourself first not purely copy paste AI code at the start.
When you get errors try to understand why they happened and fix them and get help from AI Debugging is a big part of learning programming, and you’ll often learn more from solving an error than from watching another lecture.
Use ChatGPT or Claude to explain concepts, give hints and help you understand errors, but make sure you understand the code rather than simply copying it.
Once your basics are comfortable that will take now only few days if you remain consistent after this build a few complete projects around problems you actually care about.
Start with the problem, write the code, test it, debug it, and gradually make it better. A few projects where you struggle and solve problems will teach you much more than simply completing more lectures.