Learn python programming

Question

[solmazhaddadi4003]

I am bioinformatic student but I am not good at programing ,now I want to start to learn python ,but I don’t know how can I start ?can I learn by my self ?or what is the best way ? Thank you

[cschu181]

There is no "best" way. You need to find your own.

You could do the practical approach and use Python to solve some problem that you're working on (for instance, in my case that was processing of Protein Data Bank data files during my master's work).

You could attend a course. https://swcarpentry.github.io/python-novice-inflammation/ Try this for starters. You could also check if there is a Software Carpentry event near you that you could attend or one further away that you could travel to. Just as a caveat, I have to say that the Software Carpentry approach is not for everyone, but so far I have had mostly good experience with it. It depends a lot on the trainer.

You could get a book (best with exercises), or online resource and do it the theoretical way, i.e. learn about the language and then do the exercises.

You probably have to see what works best for you.

edit: added practical approach/book approach

Answer 1

[GenoMax]

You can certainly learn by yourself. Here is a thread with comprehensive collection of python learning resources: Learning Python: list of resources

If you learn faster interactively (not everyone can learn reading books) then Istvan is teaching python via video lectures (at a pace that suits beginners) at https://www.biostarhandbook.com/ . You get access to to those lectures as a part of your biostars handbook purchase (Note: access is not free).

[German.M.Demidov]

from all these resources would like to point the Rosalind - http://rosalind.info/problems/locations/ - that's how I learnt python (+codeacademy)

Answer 2

[xonq]

I learned from the MIT OpenCourseWare course on python on youtube. They have links to homework and it's completely free. Ultimately, it comes down to taking what you learn and applying it to a problem you're interested in. You really only need to learn data types, data structures, if commands, and for loops to get started

Answer 3

[arta]

To learn programming you have to keep coding. There is really nice platform called Rosalind. It is about learning bioinformatics as well as improving coding skills through solving real bioinformatics problems. It is up to you which programming language you use. I would strongly recommend for you.