The world of Information Technology has come a long way. From developing simple applications to present-day fields like cloud computing, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence, the computer science field has seen phenomenal progress. Programming languages form the heart of the IT industry and professionals need to be well-versed in using them to perform a variety of tasks. Upgrading one’s skills is crucial in this field owing to the technological advancements happening at a fast pace. The language that you learn today may not be relevant three years from now. For example, you may have learned Java and landed a good job, but now you may notice projects requiring Python proficiency. You will have no option but to invest in learning it so as to survive in such a competitive landscape.
Many languages have now challenged the popularity of Java and developers love their advanced features and functionalities. Undoubtedly, Python is one of them and now tops the list of most popular programming languages in surveys like that of Stack Overflow and TIOBE Index. It’s clear syntax, readability, flexibility, portability, and rich set of libraries have made it a programming language of choice across the world. In fact, many software companies now facilitate Python training programs for their employees to make them capable of working on Python-related projects. But should you wait for your organization to offer you training? You need to proactively learn Python and reap the career benefits that come along.
Now many professionals like to do self-study through free online tutorials and courses. The problem that arises here is many courses just tell you the basics and how to write simple programs using Python. They don’t teach you about the topics that are actually required in the industrial environment. So, in this article, we have discussed how you can learn Python and gain proficiency in a very less time.
Learning Python
Python is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language that is used for a wide range of applications like web development, scientific computing, data science, general and application-specific scripting, game development, penetration testing, and more. It is the fastest-growing programming language and widely used in high-earning economies like the US, France, Switzerland, and Australia. Additionally, Python skills help you earn lucrative salaries. As a Python developer, you can earn an average base pay of $118K and increase the figure more by gaining relevant experience. So, you have many reasons to start learning Python.
One of the best ways you can get a hang of this language is by taking an online course. It will first help you cover the basic concepts like data types, functions, lists, tuples, operators, dicts, conditional statements, loops, classes, exception handling, etc. Going through these basics will not take much time if you already know any other programming language. For beginners, it may take around four to five weeks. The advantage of Python is that it has English-like simple commands, making it easier to learn than other programming languages.
When you know the Python basics, start getting involved in a coding community. There are many forums on social media where developers post interesting brain teasers related to Python. Platforms like Discord and Slack also have chat communities where developers can connect with each other and get answers to their doubts. Start wringing code for small applications and practice what you have learned. After the basics, you can also cover advanced Python concepts like database programming, multi-threading, socket programming, and synchronization techniques. Learning advanced Python is optional and depends upon what application you are developing through it.
Next, decide what field you are going to use Python for. This is because Python has a vast number of libraries and modules and you don’t need to learn all of them for a single type of application. For example, if you are using Python for web development, it is better to start learning about Django. But if you are using it for data science, libraries like Pandas, matplotlib, SciPy, and NumPy would be useful. Depending on your prior knowledge of the field and your dedication, it may take you around a month to get acquainted with these libraries and frameworks. Overall, it may take you around six months to become well-versed in using Python.
To sum up, Python skills can help open new avenues for your career or grab new opportunities as a contractor or freelancer. You may decide your area of expertise that requires Python programming skills and start learning it accordingly. Time and again, Python has been proved to be a highly versatile tool for developers. Top technology companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Netflix have used it in a diverse range of projects and achieved amazing outcomes.
Whether you are applying for the role of a full-stack developer, machine learning engineer, data analyst, or data scientist, you would hardly find any job description that doesn’t ask for Python know-how. So, take an online Python course today and pave your way towards becoming a successful Python developer. Achieving a Python certification will further demonstrate your seriousness for the job you are applying for and gain the attention of hiring managers instantly.