How do I get an overview and a methodology for programming in Python

Question

I've started to learn Python and programming from scratch. I have not programmed before so it's a new experience. I do seem to grasp most of the concepts, from variables to definitions and modules. I still need to learn a lot more about what the different libraries and modules do and also I lack knowledge on OOP and classes in Python.

I see people who just program in Python like that's all they have ever done and I am still just coming to grips with it.

Is there a way, some tools, a logical methodology that would give me an overview or a good hold of how to handle programming problems ?

For instance, I'm trying to create a parser which we need at the office . I also need to create a spider that would collect links from various websites.

Is there a formidable way of studying the various modules to see what is needed ? Or is it just nose to the grind stone and understand what the documentation says ?

Sorry for the lengthy question..

Answer 1

The MIT Intro to Computer Science course on the MIT OpenCourseWare website was taught using Python. There are 24 lectures available as videos that you can watch for free.

It's kind of academic to be sure, but it would give you a very solid foundation to start from.

Answer 2

Start working your way through the Essential Python Reading List, which has articles on how to code in Python and how to do it well.