Python is one of the most popular programming languages used today, especially among beginner's. Python has grown substantially over the years and is now used for all kinds of coding projects. Additionally, Python can be applied to every single industry, and serves as the primary (or one of the primary) coding languages across all topics. From computational biology to political data science to machine learning to finance, Python is prevalent and can get you far on its own. Here's a quick look at why Python is so relevant and useful in 2023:

• Python is easier to read and understand than other languages, with clear and simple code. This makes it really approachable for beginners who are just starting to learn to code.

• There's a huge community of Python users who help each other by sharing code libraries, tools, and resources. This ecosystem allows even new coders to quickly build cool projects.

• Python has pre-built libraries for a ton of functionality - machine learning, web services, data science, automation, and more. Developers can use these libraries to save time instead of coding everything from scratch.

• Python works across operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. You can write code in Python and run it on different devices.

• It's a versatile language useful for simple scripts, complex programs, AI projects, video games, desktop apps, and more. Python has you covered for almost any coding need.

High school students interested in CS should learn to code using Python given its ease and applicability across various areas. Millions of students learn to code and program with Python because it is such a relevant and universal language, with a plethora of community resources and packages available, and as we will cover in this article, with so many resources to either begin from scratch or upskill your current knowledge. 

We have compiled a list of the top 10 resources to learn python. Depending on where you are in your Python journey and what  skills you want to learn, the “best” resource can vary. Thus, these resources are assessed on the quality of the course and projects you are working on, ability to train someone from no knowledge or to upskill an individual, cost and equity of access, how up-to-date the material is with modern uses of Python, customer or personal testimonials, and course credentials. 

Online Courses

The traditional way to learn anything is to just take a course on the material – thus, listed below we have listed a series of the best online courses for anyone who wants the classic way of learning. These courses feature a lecture/lesson to introduce you to the topic, a few activities to supplement your understanding, and then a culminating activity, such as a test or a project, after a few lectures, just like any other high school course, but online!

- Codecademy - Python Learn the Language

Cost: Free, premium membership options available

Time commitment: Flexible, at your own pace

Audience: Beginners

Codecademy is one of the most popular resources for learning Python and other programming languages. Their Python course covers the fundamentals of Python syntax, structures, and libraries through a combination of coding exercises, examples, and interactive lessons. You can learn Python at your own pace for free. The course is very hands-on and ideal for beginners to gain experience writing and executing Python code. Codecademy not only features the traditional lectures, quizzes, unit tests, and other exercises, it also features a selection of cheat sheets and guides to every Python concept, career advice, projects and code challenges, and also a workspace for you to have fun with! Codecademy is the perfect all-encompassing and free course to learn Python for any beginner to learn Python.

- Udemy - The Complete Python Course: Go from Zero to Hero in Python

Cost: $179.99 for lifetime access, often discounted 50-90% off

Time commitment: 22 hours of video, at your own pace

Audience: Beginners

This comprehensive course on Udemy covers everything from Python basics to advanced libraries and frameworks. It offers 22 hours of video tutorials by expert instructors to teach you Python from the ground up. You'll build real-world Python projects like a portfolio website, a supermarket management system, and a desktop GUI application. The course curriculum and interactive coding exercises on Udemy are an affordable and structured way to become proficient in Python. The course offers the lectures, activities, quizzes, and projects for a lifetime, thus there is never any time crunch for you and always there to return to. This Python bootcamp also focuses heavily on the real-life, daily applications of Python, such as automation in sending email, extracting info from websites, and analyzing PDF files. If this interests you, then this course is perfect for you.

- Coursera - Python for Everybody Specialization

Cost: Free audit option available, $49 per month for certification

Time commitment: 5 courses, 10 hours per week for 2 months

Audience: Beginners

Created by the University of Michigan, this specialization on Coursera introduces you to programming in Python through a series of hands-on coding projects and applications. The 5 courses cover:

• Programming for Everybody - Learn to program in Python

• Python Data Structures - Understand how to use lists, tuples, dictionaries in Python

• Using Python to Access Web Data - Learn how to scrape data and process JSON data feeds

• Using Databases with Python - Learn to use relational databases with SQL and Python

• Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python - Apply Python skills to process and visualize data

This structured curriculum is a comprehensive way to gain practical Python skills for both beginners and aspiring data scientists. The courses teach you Python fundamentals and how to apply them to build data-centric applications. Coursera and its featured courses, such as Python for Everybody, are extremely useful and popular for learning Python, and for good reason, as many spout this course as their beginning of their future career or just for them to get a strong foundation in Python.

Project-Based Self-Paced Learning

If you already have a quick introduction to Python or have taken some courses and want a way to test your skills out and see what you can do or see what gaps of knowledge you have, these project-based sources will be perfect for you. These courses are similar to the ones above, but prioritize the completion of some sort of project, with some optional preparatory materials to lead you to the finalization of your task. Be sure to use these resources after getting any sort of introduction to Python, rather than as your first time with Python.

- DataCamp - Learn Python

Cost: $25 per month, $300 per year

Time commitment: Self-paced, interactive coding exercises

Audience: All skill levels

DataCamp is a platform focused entirely on teaching data skills through hands-on courses. Their Python programming curriculum includes over 150 courses and coding exercises from beginner to advanced levels. You can learn Python basics, data analysis, machine learning, web scraping, and more. Although the platform is centered for people to learn data skills and analytics, DataCamp still heavily focuses on programming skills and the utilization of Python across many topics, which does include data science, machine learning, and finance.

DataCamp's interactive lessons provide immediate feedback and guidance. You code in the browser and get hints and solutions to help you learn. The curriculum was developed by expert instructors and is an engaging resource to strengthen your Python abilities for any application or career path. You will be able to engage with all aspects of DataCamp at your own pace, finishing your own projects, taking whichever courses/projects you choose to undertake, and get a personalized experience to whatever you need in your Python journey.

- Udacity - Introduction to Programming in Python

Cost: $1600 for the four months, features personalized offers that heavily reduce this price

Time commitment: 4 months, 10 hours per week

Audience: Beginners

This Udacity course teaches you Python through a mixture of traditional courses, but also heavily allows you to build your own interactive programs and games. You'll learn Python fundamentals by coding fun projects such as:

• A virtual pet - Feed, walk, clean up after your pet

• A movie recommendation system - Suggest movies based on user ratings

• An ASCII art generator - Convert images into text-based art

• A text adventure game - Navigation and action options based on user input

The projects introduce core Python concepts in a hands-on way. Udacity's video lessons and code reviews provide guidance as you build each program. This beginner-friendly course is an engaging introduction to Python through fun and creative projects that many other courses do not feature. Udacity also uniquely features a wide range of professors and teaching staff, who provide personalized feedback and guidance, which other independent courses do not feature.

Working on Personal Projects

When you apply to any CS-based job, employers typically ask for a portfolio or a GitHub with your previous projects. After getting an introduction to basic Python programming with any of the above, it’s useful to begin work on your own projects that interest you. This showcases your understanding of Python outside of a guided course. Examples of projects include any sort of functional website or game, digital calculator, building a chatbot, or utilizing an API to build a service for an audience. You can build these projects through any workspace, such as GitHub or Codecademy, or Jupyter Notebook/Google Colab.

Joining Computer Science Communities

Learning alongside others is always a better way to go! There are many organizations and online communities out there where programmers can come together and talk about Python and their projects. Whether it is just sharing stories, asking for advice, asking for collaborators, or just having fun with people of the same interest, joining a community of like-minded people always helps you progress your skills, no matter what stage you are at. These communities are everywhere, such as StackOverflow, Reddit, Girls Who Code, and more. There is sure to be a community for your own affinity group, interests, and level of technicality!

Consuming different forms of Python media and literature

Outside of direct hands-on learning, you can also utilize the various other forms of media out there to help you continue learning. The field of Python continues to be advanced, especially within the sub-specializations of computer science, such as bioinformatics, fintech, and AI. Keeping up with these advancements, reading research papers, and understanding how these new advancements occur will always bolster your learning. Additionally, there are many textbooks and literature to help beginners learn computer science like Automate the Boring Stuff with Python and The Self-Taught Programmer: The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally.

Getting mentorship within CS & Python

Similar to finding a community, finding someone who can directly help you and serve as a mentor throughout your growing CS career can prove to be invaluable. A mentor can help you understand how to get started with python and how to advance your skills. They guide you along what projects/courses/competitions to try out, how to develop your resume and portfolio from a young age, and are able to provide you with valuable career advice. Finding a mentor can be difficult but there are ways to make it work. It could happen naturally through your communities you participate in, by emailing a professor of an online course you took, or just cold-emailing and messaging people in the industry/career you look up to! 

Try Out Practice Problems

As you continue to learn Python, you should consider looking for platforms and exercises that can help push you further and help you advance your expertise and understanding of Python. Through websites like HackerRank, Leetcode, and CodinGame, you will have the chance to work through python exercises that let you practice coding concepts by solving more niche problems. These are much quicker than the individual projects above, but allow you to apply quick solutions to a multitude of scenarios and problems. If you feel like you are mastering your python skills and want to take it a step further, check out USACO and IOI for practice problems that train the United States’ and the world’s most talented high school programmers.

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

Image source: Codecademy Logo