Should I Even Bother

I have wanted to learn Python, based on its cool name and many people loving it. It also seems to be the language that builds most of my favorite apps/scripts. Though looking into possible job futures, there does not seem to be that many python related ones.

So that is partly why I choose all these others to start with.

For me it seems like I can understand the code, if I look at it, yes Ok, got it. I know what something is, like if I see "public class home" I know what that is. Yet when I go to build something, when something is asked of me, I don't know what to do.

I am just saying, after basically three tries at languages, its hard to believe going to Python will change anything?

I don't know if it's okay to link to external websites here, but...

Here's a link to a FAQ/starter guide

I also recommend checking out the r/dailyprogrammer subreddit as well. It's filled with daily, weekly, and monthly programming challenges designed for beginners through advanced programmers. In the absence of a structured school curriculum, it can be a nice way to challenge yourself and try to solve problems using your skills. Work at it (using your favorite language) until you can complete a beginner challenge. If you can't solve it, look at how others did it in the same language. If you keep at it, you should be able to eventually start solving the beginner problems, then your next goal would be to aim for 100% beginner completion rate along with trying to solve the intermediate tasks, and so on. I think it's a great way to take your knowledge and turn it into something practical, something that can solve a problem. It's not perfect, but it's free. There are other sources with practice problems available in the FAQ I linked.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in the same boat as us: Newborns to the world of programming, feeling their way around for the first time. Truth is, a lot of them won't make it very far. This is why I think it's important to have kind of a "home base" like Treehouse. You have most of your resources in one place, with a curriculum-like design and good support and teachers (mentor-figures).

Just try to keep at it, I'm in the same boat so unfortunately all I can do is offer words of motivation.

You know what I did. I learned a different language. javascript chose me. LOLs. Just keep on coding and try different languages. Hopefully the language will choose you. LOLs.

Don't forget to read books and to code everyday. It's not sprint. it's a marathon.

Wow, glad I stumbled into here. Thanks for the heads up, Chris. Just finished the Python Basics course, but unlike everything else I've done on Treehouse so far, I walked away really feeling like I didn't learn much. Looking forward to the overhaul.

Edit I should probably add something to stay on topic.

Brendon, I'm also learning with the intent of getting a job, but like Jason said above, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Completing content on Treehouse probably won't make you employable right out of the gate, but it seems to provide a fantastic starting point. Still, the reality is that even with that kind of foundation, you need to put the concepts into practice and look for ways to challenge yourself. Professional programmers don't have all of this stuff perfectly memorized, but they are trained at putting these concepts to use and looking for the best ways to implement those ideas. Honestly, it will probably be at least a good year or so of consistent studying until you're ready for internships or entry-level openings. Maybe this video-heavy format just doesn't do it for you, in which case you might find it better to get some basic foundations under your belt, then seek out an intensive boot camp or something where you have a live teacher, classmates, and group projects and whatnot. EdX also offers some good (and free) computer science sources. I highly recommend the CS50 course from Harvard.

I suggest checking out the LearnProgramming subreddit on Reddit for good advice on resources and how to improve. I also suggest starting with a little bit of HTML and CSS. They're easier to understand and help you ease into "thinking" like a programmer.

I've spent over 3 years learning Japanese and while I managed to land a job in Japan, I could keep studying for years and years and would still find more things to learn. You just have to take it one day at a time and keep at it, little by little. Don't burn yourself out, but try not to walk away or skip days. Best of luck.