Is Python hard to learn?

Python is a high-level programming language used in areas such as Machine Learning, AI, Web Development, Automation, etc.

The heavy use of this programming language in these advanced fields might make you wonder, "Is Python hard to learn?"

Well, Don't Worry! It is an easy programming language thanks to its simple syntax that closely resembles English.

But how easy is Python for beginners? What is its exact difficulty level? These are some questions that we'll answer today.

Is Python Hard to Learn for Beginners?

No, Python is actually an easy language to learn. Here are three reasons that make Python perfect for beginners:

• Python's syntax is easy to read. Beginners can understand what the code is doing with just a glance.
• Writing code in Python is very intuitive. It is like writing a form of English. Python does all the complex tasks for you. So, you can focus on the code's logic rather than the syntax.
• Python is an interpreted language (the code is executed line by line). This is super helpful as the debugger in Python will show one error instead of a list of errors. So you can fix errors more easily.

To show how much easier it is to write code in Python, here is a simple program to print "Hello World" in C, Java, and Python:

C- Programming

#include<stdio.h>

int main(){

printf("Hello, World!");
return 0;

}

Java

class HelloWorld {public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println("Hello, World!");

}

}

Python

print("Hello World")

As you can see, the Python code is just one line of simple English, whereas the Java and C codes are complicated to understand.

How Hard Is It to Learn Python?

While we've said that Python is easy, certain aspects of this language can still prove to be difficult. Here are a few of them:

Indentation

Indentation is arguably what beginner coders hate the most about Python. Indentation refers to the white spaces before a line of code. You might wonder, "So, what's the big deal with white spaces?"

Well, that's the thing - indentation doesn't matter in other programming languages. But Python uses indentation to divide the code into blocks (like the curly braces in other programming languages).

Incorrect use of whitespaces will produce errors in the code. But the problem is that white spaces are invisible.

So when there is a missing white space or an extra white space, beginners can only scratch their heads in confusion as they search for the error.

Lengthy Learning Curve

The basics of Python are easy to learn. But we cannot say the same about its frameworks and libraries. Since Python is used in such a wide range of applications, there are tons of frameworks available.

Frameworks are tools with ready-made components that can be used as a foundation to build applications.

Programmers find frameworks very helpful when they are working on a project. But beginners have to learn a bunch of them to do simple tasks, which can be pretty tedious.

So if you want to learn Python to develop projects or learn some new technology like Data Science or Machine Learning, you will need to dedicate a lot of time to learning their respective frameworks.

Among these frameworks, beginners often complain that Django and Tensorflow are the most challenging.

Database Access

A database is an organized collection of data. Programming languages must connect with databases to insert and retrieve data from them.

So database access is an integral part of programming. Sadly, Python's database access is considered very primitive compared to languages like Java. While writing code is easy in Python, interacting with databases is very complicated.

Python Difficulty: Influencing Factors

Let us now move on to the major factors that determine the difficulty level of Python:

Purpose of Learning

Your reason for learning Python determines how difficult the language can get for you. For example, it's not that difficult if you just want to cover the basics of programming.

But if you want to tackle complex topics like object-oriented programming, exception handling, and inheritance, you might want to take your time.

Also, learning Python casually differs from learning Python to get a job. Casual learning won't require much effort, and you can learn at your own pace.

But if you want a job with Python, you'll only have a set time frame to learn the language. By the time you're done, you must be good at Python and have some projects on your Github.

In addition, you will also need strong interpersonal skills to get through an interview and land a job. Here's a rundown of the skills you need to land a Python job:

• Mastery of Python fundamentals
• Knowledge of Advanced Python Concepts
• Knowledge of one or two frameworks (depending on your area of interest)
• GitHub repository with a few projects (in your interest area)

Prior Programming Experience

If you have prior programming knowledge, learning Python can be much easier. Since you already know the coding basics, you only need to learn the syntax.

At the same time, there are many new concepts in Python, such as indentation, mutable and immutable objects, decorators, lambda functions, and more.

So even experienced programmers may need to learn a few new things to master Python.

But there's no need to worry if you have no prior programming experience; you'll just have to practice a little longer.

Learning Approach

Your learning approach will determine how difficult Python will be for you. You can go with the following approaches while learning Python:

• Self-learning - You will be learning on your own without any guidance. This will make it quite difficult for you to learn complex concepts. Since you won't have any set syllabus and a time frame to follow, you have to learn the concepts yourself.
  
  You can also procrastinate when you are learning Python by yourself. In addition, you may give up learning Python when you get stuck as there won't be anyone to help you out.
• Bootcamps - With a 3 to 6 months Python Bootcamp, you get guidance and assistance. So, it will be easier to learn the language. One disadvantage of bootcamps, however, is that they cram too much learning into a few months.
• Interactive Courses - Interactive courses can help you learn Python more easily. With most interactive courses, you get lessons, quizzes, and challenges. These features help to make sure you don't procrastinate while learning. It also makes the content digestible, and you will be able to grasp complex concepts easily.

Time and Effort

The time and effort you invest in learning Python is the final factor that determines the difficulty level of Python. The more time you invest, the easier Python will get.

As you continue learning, you will encounter increasingly difficult topics. Just remember to practice consistently, and you will master these concepts in no time.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Python?

Learning the basics of Python can take you around 3 to 6 months. From here, you can take different learning paths.

Since Python is used in various fields like web development, automation, and machine learning, the basics are not enough to land you a job. If you want to get a job as a Python developer, you need to master a specific area.

For instance, if you want to learn web development after you have finished Python basics, you will need 3 to 6 more months to learn Django, a web framework.

So, you will have to learn Python for around 1 year to be a hireable Python web developer.

Similarly, you will need to spend 2 to 3 additional months learning Python automation once you have finished learning the basics.

Check this guide to find out how long it will take a beginner to learn Python.

print(20 + 30)

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
  cout <<  20 + 30;
  return 0;
}