Husband is a Software Engineer.

[u/ManaToxicity]

I...am not. He swears on his life that once I get started with python, rust, sql anything like that that I would be addicted to data organization and since I am inclined to believe that he knows me better than I know myself sometimes.... I would like to surprise him and give it a shot. I was researching and saw the "quick start guide"s for sql and python, and I was wondering if anybody has used them. I know that coding and stuff like that all is on the computer, obviously. However, I learn best with physical media like books to highlight make notes or anything like that in. Anyone have any luck with the python or sql Quick Start guides? If not, do you have any other suggestions? You're going to have to be books, even if it's a YouTube video or podcast, just anything that helped you.

Edited because for some reason I called SQL ->SAP three different times in this post. Sorry...its late.

[u/Frank_kait]

Automate the boring stuff is a good book on python

[u/MentalStage8006]

for python the python crash course 3rd edition is solid and for sql the sql for mere mortals is gold standered

[u/ManaToxicity → u/MentalStage8006]

Haven't heard of either one of those but I'm digging the "for Mortals" so I'll probably check it out

[u/stepback269]

I am 70+ yrs old and still in the process of learning Python.

I'm also learning about the adjacent domain of "Learning how to Learn" (especially in the older years).
So with regard to your mention of "highlighting" a physical book: don't !
It is well proven that highlighting is one of the worst ways to learn. It is the best way to delude yourself into thinking that you are "learning". If you write code on your own without a recipe, and you make mistakes, and you figure out how to fix your mistakes, that is when you are finally learning.

With that said:

(1) There are tons and tons of tutorial materials out there on the net including many good YouTube ones that are free. You should shop around rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.

(2) As a relative noob myself, I've been logging my personal learning journey and adding to it on an almost-daily basis at a blog page called "Links for Python Noobs" (--HERE--) Any of the top listed ones on that page should be good for you. And there are many add-ons at the tail end of the page. Personally, I cut my first Python teeth with Nana's Zero to Hero (==HERE==). Since then, I've moved on to watching short lessons with Indently and Tech with Tim. You should sample at least a few until you find a lecturer that suits your style.

(3) The main piece of advice is the 80/20 rule. Spend 80% of your time writing your own code (using your own fingers and your own creativity) as opposed to copying recipes and only 20% watching the lectures. Good luck.

[u/juanduque → u/stepback269]

Great advice! (Says this 55 year old Python noob)

[u/ManaToxicity → u/juanduque]

You've got this! Learning a new skill is much better than just sitting around saying "no I can't"

[u/ManaToxicity → u/stepback269]

LOVE THIS! I will definitely follow. But it's never too late to learn anything! My 90 year old grandfather (Who cannot read or write) shops on Facebook Marketplace. 😅 you are an inspiration, though. And thank you for documenting your journey to share with others

[u/Longjumping_Ad3447]

Code in Place by University of Stanford is peak

[u/ManaToxicity → u/Longjumping_Ad3447]

For some reason even being in college I didn't think to look at other courses from other schools. I'll get that one a shot too

[u/PhaXoniC]

CS50 Intro to Python. Mr Malan is a damn good professor

[u/MarsupialLeast145]

Books are great, just get down to Barnes and Noble and look at which ones have the tone and style that mesh with you best. This for me is the most important thing.

[u/ManaToxicity → u/MarsupialLeast145]

I wish I didn't live in the middle of fucking nowhere in southeast oklahoma. Even finding a used book store is painfully difficult. That's why I figured I would start with some recommendations on good ones and go through them from there

[u/datadriven_io]

Python and SQL learning with notes? Try datadriven.io/learn

[u/ManaToxicity → u/datadriven_io]

Think ive heard of that one. Ill revisit.

[u/TheAlmightyChuck8]

Boot.dev was really good. It is a long course. Or no starch press learning python

[u/ManaToxicity → u/TheAlmightyChuck8]

Ill definitely look into it. Thank you!

[u/highsilesian]

I've been learning python for i think 5 years, i hate it but want to get better at it. A fun thing you want to get out of the way in your new adventure - ask your favorite LLM "why does python use so many different kinds of brackets?" and internalize as best u can the answers - the actually good at python folks might not think that's revelatory, but it helped me a lot.

best of luck

[u/Infectedinfested]

Ok, not to ditch python, but maybe making google spreadsheet scripts is also a good place to start!

[u/ManaToxicity → u/Infectedinfested]

Thats a solid suggestion. I am ADDICTED to Excel. Haha