6 ms·

Learn Python by doing fun interactive exercises

114 points by damicoa1 5y ago

rsyring 5y ago
My 12 year old son has finished Robomind and I've started him on their Python version. I'm going to check out the link on this post. Anyone have other recommendations for his learning Python that I should check out? At his age, something interactive or even hardware based seems like it would be the best approach. I've got a whole list of resources I could use with someone older. But I'm struggling to find something that's both incrementally guided, so he doesn't get overwhelmed, but also engaging, so he doesn't get bored.
- damicoa1 5y ago
  Maybe the Mimo app might help. I think they have a Python course.
- chaostheory 5y ago
  Code combat is pretty fun
- ai_ia 5y ago
  I have recently released a Python Course on Primer[1]. It is interactive, incrementally guided and completely free for Python-I. You can checkout the content of the course without signing up as it is also an online book. [2]. The book is around 440 pages and it will take mostly 12-15 hours for your son to complete. And you can understand where he is getting it wrong by reading and analysing his conversations. (For an easier way to do this, Multiplayer mode is in roadmap) Benefits of using Primer: - Automatic flashcards generation - Personalized Book generated at the end of the course from conversations, notes and questions - Stores conversations so that he can revisit and resume after giving up for a while. Its a bit new platform therefore, I have written an introduction post about Primer as well which you might find interesting. [3] [4] EpicPython seems to have an integrated Python environment which is definitely something of a plus as it makes it easier for a learner. Primer doesn't have that as it is intended to solve a different problem altogether. On a sidenote, I will very happy if your son chooses Primer to learn Python. Its less than a week since I launched Primer. [1]: Primer Website: https://primerlabs.io https://primerlabs.io [2]: Python-I Online Book https://primerlabs.io/books/python-i/ https://primerlabs.io/books/python-i/ [3]: Introducton to Primer Blogpost: https://primerlabs.io/blog/introducing-primer/ https://primerlabs.io/blog/introducing-primer/ [4]: Introduction to Primer Comics Based Blogpost: https://primerlabs.io/comics/introducing-primer-comics/ https://primerlabs.io/comics/introducing-primer-comics/
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- BrandoElFollito 5y ago
  You may consider home automation. Home Assistant is built in Python, and the pyscript plugin allows to write Python automations easily. This is fun, tengible and quickly addoctive
42droids 5y ago
Looks great but how much? No prices anywhere.
- hiitechk 5y ago
  $49 for lifetime access.
- TuringNYC 5y ago
  I created an account and it then presented the prices: "Upgrade to Pro Becoming a Python expert is just a click away! Get full access to all Python lessons with a one-time payment of just $49" But there appears to be a free tier of exercises.
  - damicoa1 5y ago
    Thanks! Yeah the first 'Syntax Intro' module is free
- rsyring 5y ago
  $49 one time payment
epicpython 5y ago
Any feedback is welcome! Are the lessons too easy? too difficult, confusing, etc.
- Ennea 5y ago
  Sign-up screen is completely empty when using Firefox.
  - racl101 5y ago
    They didn't offer to teach JavaScript.
  - nextBook02 5y ago
    Firefox is workn for me. Ver. 89.0.2
- alessivs 5y ago
  No relation with https://epicpython.io/ https://epicpython.io/ ?
- bashinator 5y ago
  Any way to create an account with just email rather than google or twitter?
  - bbhart 5y ago
    Same question. After getting burned by google sso a few years back I stick to email that I can control.
    - 123pie123 5y ago
      my thoughts exactly - I will not be trying this https://www.quora.com/Which-free-online-courses-are-good-for-learning-the-Python-programming-language https://www.quora.com/Which-free-online-courses-are-good-for...
NatPS 5y ago
Looks great, but what does this offer over free resources like MITx Python? Does this have any larger projects, or just exercises?
- epicpython 5y ago
  Thanks! trying to make Epic Python more of a hands on learning and allowing the user to just jump in and start coding instead of having to watch videos and setup their own python environment. No larger project currently, but hoping to add in much more modules around more advanced topics as well as popular Python libraries like Pandas, numpym, and some project based lessons.
dec0dedab0de 5y ago
I used to really like codingbat.com when I was getting started, and when I got better I would try to code golf the answers as a warm up. I always wished there was more advanced exercises in it
dod9er 5y ago
Sign up only with google or twitter account, really ?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
jetpackjoe 5y ago
Not showing prices anywhere until a user signs up is a dark pattern
- tristanperry 5y ago
  Yep, came here to say this. I dislike when companies do this; even more so when they say you need to pay - and even THEN they don't give a price: "Pay once. No subscriptions"
  - epicpython 5y ago
    Totally understand, Will definitely be adding a pricing section to the landing page soon. Appreciate the feedback.
    - tristanperry 5y ago
      Awesome thanks, that'll be a helpful addition :)
- esrh 5y ago
  Perhaps the website has changed since this comment was made, but they actually do put pricing on the page. It's just at the very bottom of the page which the user would have to scroll to after seeing "sign up for free" twice prominently without engaging at all. In my opinion, still dark.
ficklepickle 5y ago
If the author is here, it appears to be broken at a rather early stage. I'm at variables part of the syntax intro and it reports an error, even when I select "Show Answer" and submit that. food = "Pizza" print(food) --- Output: ERROR: Looks like there was an error
- nextBook02 5y ago
  Just tried it and the lesson works for me. Didn’t get any errors
  - ficklepickle 5y ago
    Weird. Maybe it's because I'm using Edge. I just hit another similar error on the "addition-subtraction" one. I can't get past it even by "Show Answer". I'll switch to Chrome and see if it persists. Edit: Tried it in Chrome and the error persists
- prosaic-hacker 5y ago
  Same Issue for me. Using Firefox beta.
neerajdotname2 5y ago
Our web based Python course is still "work in progress" but other programming related courses are there. https://academy.bigbinary.com/ https://academy.bigbinary.com/
ohm 5y ago
JetBrains academy is good as well https://www.jetbrains.com/academy/ https://www.jetbrains.com/academy/
wesleywt 5y ago
As someone in his 40's who learnt Python, I found working on a project that you are keen on is the best way to learn programming in general.
tbbyt 5y ago
Gmail and Twitter as the only login option? Why not standar email?
vbernat 5y ago
When logging with Twitter, it requires access to: - access to all tweets, lists and collections - access to profile and account settings - access to all the accounts you follow, mute, block Not one thing in this list is necessary.
say_it_as_it_is 5y ago
Something like this for bottom-up dynamic programming would be great.
robsalasco 5y ago
would be nice if in the future you can offer multiple languages too ;)
drumhead 5y ago
Can only sign in with Google or Twitter, thats me out then.
lanecwagner 5y ago
Hmm... very similar to what I'm building at https://qvault.io https://qvault.io - inspires me to improve my UI though

114 points by damicoa1 5y ago

My 12 year old son has finished Robomind and I've started him on their Python version. I'm going to check out the link on this post. Anyone have other recommendations for his learning Python that I should check out? At his age, something interactive or even hardware based seems like it would be the best approach. I've got a whole list of resources I could use with someone older. But I'm struggling to find something that's both incrementally guided, so he doesn't get overwhelmed, but also engaging, so he doesn't get bored.

damicoa1 5y ago
Maybe the Mimo app might help. I think they have a Python course.
chaostheory 5y ago
Code combat is pretty fun
ai_ia 5y ago
I have recently released a Python Course on Primer[1]. It is interactive, incrementally guided and completely free for Python-I. You can checkout the content of the course without signing up as it is also an online book. [2]. The book is around 440 pages and it will take mostly 12-15 hours for your son to complete. And you can understand where he is getting it wrong by reading and analysing his conversations. (For an easier way to do this, Multiplayer mode is in roadmap) Benefits of using Primer: - Automatic flashcards generation - Personalized Book generated at the end of the course from conversations, notes and questions - Stores conversations so that he can revisit and resume after giving up for a while. Its a bit new platform therefore, I have written an introduction post about Primer as well which you might find interesting. [3] [4] EpicPython seems to have an integrated Python environment which is definitely something of a plus as it makes it easier for a learner. Primer doesn't have that as it is intended to solve a different problem altogether. On a sidenote, I will very happy if your son chooses Primer to learn Python. Its less than a week since I launched Primer. [1]: Primer Website: https://primerlabs.io https://primerlabs.io [2]: Python-I Online Book https://primerlabs.io/books/python-i/ https://primerlabs.io/books/python-i/ [3]: Introducton to Primer Blogpost: https://primerlabs.io/blog/introducing-primer/ https://primerlabs.io/blog/introducing-primer/ [4]: Introduction to Primer Comics Based Blogpost: https://primerlabs.io/comics/introducing-primer-comics/ https://primerlabs.io/comics/introducing-primer-comics/
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
BrandoElFollito 5y ago
You may consider home automation. Home Assistant is built in Python, and the pyscript plugin allows to write Python automations easily. This is fun, tengible and quickly addoctive

42droids 5y ago

Looks great but how much? No prices anywhere.

hiitechk 5y ago
$49 for lifetime access.
TuringNYC 5y ago
I created an account and it then presented the prices: "Upgrade to Pro Becoming a Python expert is just a click away! Get full access to all Python lessons with a one-time payment of just $49" But there appears to be a free tier of exercises.
- damicoa1 5y ago
  Thanks! Yeah the first 'Syntax Intro' module is free
rsyring 5y ago
$49 one time payment

epicpython 5y ago

Any feedback is welcome! Are the lessons too easy? too difficult, confusing, etc.

Ennea 5y ago
Sign-up screen is completely empty when using Firefox.
- racl101 5y ago
  They didn't offer to teach JavaScript.
- nextBook02 5y ago
  Firefox is workn for me. Ver. 89.0.2
alessivs 5y ago
No relation with https://epicpython.io/ https://epicpython.io/ ?
bashinator 5y ago
Any way to create an account with just email rather than google or twitter?
- bbhart 5y ago
  Same question. After getting burned by google sso a few years back I stick to email that I can control.
  - 123pie123 5y ago
    my thoughts exactly - I will not be trying this https://www.quora.com/Which-free-online-courses-are-good-for-learning-the-Python-programming-language https://www.quora.com/Which-free-online-courses-are-good-for...

NatPS 5y ago

Looks great, but what does this offer over free resources like MITx Python? Does this have any larger projects, or just exercises?

epicpython 5y ago
Thanks! trying to make Epic Python more of a hands on learning and allowing the user to just jump in and start coding instead of having to watch videos and setup their own python environment. No larger project currently, but hoping to add in much more modules around more advanced topics as well as popular Python libraries like Pandas, numpym, and some project based lessons.

dec0dedab0de 5y ago

I used to really like codingbat.com when I was getting started, and when I got better I would try to code golf the answers as a warm up. I always wished there was more advanced exercises in it

dod9er 5y ago

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

jetpackjoe 5y ago

Not showing prices anywhere until a user signs up is a dark pattern

tristanperry 5y ago
Yep, came here to say this. I dislike when companies do this; even more so when they say you need to pay - and even THEN they don't give a price: "Pay once. No subscriptions"
- epicpython 5y ago
  Totally understand, Will definitely be adding a pricing section to the landing page soon. Appreciate the feedback.
  - tristanperry 5y ago
    Awesome thanks, that'll be a helpful addition :)
esrh 5y ago
Perhaps the website has changed since this comment was made, but they actually do put pricing on the page. It's just at the very bottom of the page which the user would have to scroll to after seeing "sign up for free" twice prominently without engaging at all. In my opinion, still dark.

ficklepickle 5y ago

If the author is here, it appears to be broken at a rather early stage. I'm at variables part of the syntax intro and it reports an error, even when I select "Show Answer" and submit that. food = "Pizza" print(food) --- Output: ERROR: Looks like there was an error

nextBook02 5y ago
Just tried it and the lesson works for me. Didn’t get any errors
- ficklepickle 5y ago
  Weird. Maybe it's because I'm using Edge. I just hit another similar error on the "addition-subtraction" one. I can't get past it even by "Show Answer". I'll switch to Chrome and see if it persists. Edit: Tried it in Chrome and the error persists
prosaic-hacker 5y ago
Same Issue for me. Using Firefox beta.

neerajdotname2 5y ago

Our web based Python course is still "work in progress" but other programming related courses are there. https://academy.bigbinary.com/ https://academy.bigbinary.com/

ohm 5y ago

JetBrains academy is good as well https://www.jetbrains.com/academy/ https://www.jetbrains.com/academy/

wesleywt 5y ago

As someone in his 40's who learnt Python, I found working on a project that you are keen on is the best way to learn programming in general.

tbbyt 5y ago

Gmail and Twitter as the only login option? Why not standar email?

vbernat 5y ago

When logging with Twitter, it requires access to: - access to all tweets, lists and collections - access to profile and account settings - access to all the accounts you follow, mute, block Not one thing in this list is necessary.

say_it_as_it_is 5y ago

Something like this for bottom-up dynamic programming would be great.

robsalasco 5y ago

would be nice if in the future you can offer multiple languages too ;)

drumhead 5y ago

Can only sign in with Google or Twitter, thats me out then.

lanecwagner 5y ago

Hmm... very similar to what I'm building at https://qvault.io https://qvault.io - inspires me to improve my UI though