I think everyone pushes Python too hard for total newbies

Last month, I was helping my friend in Chicago learn to code and started with Python like everyone says. We spent three hours just trying to get pip to install a simple library without errors, and he got so frustrated he almost quit. I switched gears and had him write a basic webpage with HTML and CSS instead, and seeing his own colorful page show up in the browser kept him going. Has anyone else found a different starting point that worked better?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicehernandez4d agoTop Commenter

That part about your friend almost quitting over pip errors is so real. It's like when you try to follow a "simple" recipe and spend more time finding weird ingredients than actually cooking. Starting with something visual that gives quick wins just makes sense for keeping people from getting overwhelmed right away.

the_jennifer4d ago

My first project was a turtle graphics drawing. Seeing the lines appear kept me going past the initial setup frustration.

jenny_hall4d ago

Totally agree with that... visual feedback is everything when you're new. It turns an abstract idea into something real you can see working. Without that instant reward, it's just typing into a void and hoping. The setup pain feels worth it when you get a little drawing at the end.