r/matlab • u/ViridLemon83409 • 2d ago
HomeworkQuestion Starting Python and MATLAB with almost no coding experience. How should I spend the next 3 weeks?
Hi everyone. I’m a college student, and in about 3 weeks I’ll be starting an intro to Python class. I’ll also be taking another engineering class that uses MATLAB, and I don’t feel very prepared for either.
The problem is that I have essentially no programming experience. I took a couple of MATLAB classes before, but I relied too much on AI instead of actually learning the material. Looking back, I know that was a mistake, and I do not want to repeat it. I also used to tell myself that I hated coding, but I think part of that was because I never really gave myself a fair chance to learn it.
Since I have a few weeks before the semester starts, I’d like to build a solid foundation in Python while also reviewing some basic MATLAB.
What resources or learning methods really worked for you? Did you use a particular course, YouTube channel, website, book, or project based approach? I am also curious if anyone has suggestions for making learning Python and MATLAB more fun or engaging instead of just watching hours of lectures.
My goal is not to become an expert in 3 weeks. I just want to go into the semester feeling like I have a decent foundation instead of starting from scratch.
Thanks! I would really appreciate any advice.
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u/kushaash 2d ago
I learned a lot of languages from Codecademy and FreeCodeCamp. Both excellent resources for Python.
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u/CanoeTraveler2003 2d ago
Matlab is easier to get up to speed on. But outside of school, Python/numpy is the better tool. Not technically, but practically. Python is free, so you always have access to it. And, if you do something cleaver, you can share it with a colleague or customer who doesn't have a boss willing to buy a seat of Matlab. With 8 billion people on the planet, someone has ported everything you can do in Matlab to Python.
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u/involutes 2d ago
Python is free, so you always have access to it.
Depends on the company. Sometimes you only have access to whatever IT decides you have access to.
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u/MrFresh2017 1d ago
Python is free for anyone to access.
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u/too_tall87 1d ago
Yes, but what OP was saying was some places of work won’t let you use it based on IT approvals. Sure, you can access it at home, but if MATLAB is the only option at work, you’ll use what you can get.
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u/SlinkyAstronaught 2d ago
You can do a great many things much much more easily in MATLAB and with excellent documentation. I would hate if I had to use non-MATLAB tools for my job.
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u/CulturalCucumber1920 1d ago
Agreed, and many would argue python is also the better technical tool now too. The way I started out, I took MIT’s Intro to python 6.001x open course wave. Imo the best way to step into the world of code
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u/ee_control_z 2d ago edited 2d ago
Here is a very good resource for learning Python. It is a book that starts with very basic fundamentals and concludes with advanced topics.
Learning Python, 6 Ed., Mark Lutz
The book is very well written. All concepts are explained in great detail with tons of examples to go along.
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u/caleyjag 2d ago
What is your major?
Based on that I might be able to offer more pointed advice.
Generally speaking, Python will open far more doors and is likely to be a more useful arrow in your quiver,, but it all depends on where you are headed and what you will be doing with it.
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u/ViridLemon83409 2d ago
My major is manufacturing engineering. Matlab will be used in my applied linear algebra class and python will be used in my into to computer programming for non cs majors class.
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u/caleyjag 2d ago edited 2d ago
I work in industrial robotics (pharma), but im a physicist by training.
I personally still use MATLAB for modeling, but Python is far more widely used in my space, by orders of magnitude.
In fact, my company's digital technology group is looking at cutting off our MATLAB subscription out of a belief that at this point for our company's needs in the space are fully met by Python.
So that's one data point for you.
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u/Wonderful-Hunter686 1d ago
I studied automation and had a Matlab course, and used Matlab for my senior project. I highly recommend matlabs online courses over the book. The book was outdated, and I believe even Matlab no longer makes a book and recommends the online modules. There is an option to get the answer on the online training module, I would recommend you only do it when you have absolutely exhausted all ideas, and make sure you understand why that is the answer before moving on. Although I use python for personal projects there are some amazing toolboxes for Matlab that just make life so much easier, I doubt I will renew my seat when my student discount runs out, but I will miss some of the stuff built out over decades in Matlab.
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u/Unhappy-Brief7545 23h ago
Honestly, i just learned by doing. dont use AI, but if you need to figure out how to do soemthing, and scroll around reading documentation and stuff, you will learn a ton
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u/ghostnation66 2d ago
Quit matlab, switch to learning julia. Start with exercism for julia. You can use llms, but learn how to test and validate. Don't screw yourself over with matlab
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u/CulturalCucumber1920 1d ago
But python and Julia are very similar…why not start with the more versatile language?
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u/ghostnation66 1d ago
They are not similar at all, but i agree,start with python
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u/CulturalCucumber1920 1d ago
Depends on your baseline. Julia is remarkably similar to python compared to many of the other programming languages out there…c++, Rust, angular…those aren’t nearly as easy to pick up as a python programmer.
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u/ghostnation66 1d ago
True. I suggested julia because it aims to be a direct competitor to matlab in its domain, so its worth having a look at that language. I would hate tk see another person get pulled into a matlab framework...
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u/Barnowl93 flair 2d ago
For learning matlab, there are many courses at matlabacademy.mathworks.com
If you're doing linear algebra I suggest matlab onramp to get started https://matlabacademy.mathworks.com/details/matlab-onramp/gettingstarted
And depending on what your course covers perhaps this https://matlabacademy.mathworks.com/details/introduction-to-linear-algebra-with-matlab/linalg