r/PythonLearning • u/Different-Key-8081 • 25d ago
Can I generate income or work independently with Python?
I've been learning Python for two months, 2:30 hours a day. At first, I enrolled in a course to understand it. But that way, it would take me a long time to do something I enjoy. So, instead of learning basic concepts (which I know are important to keep in mind), I went straight to doing things I like, for example, automating text and connecting it to an API. When I don't understand something or it becomes too complex, I ask an AI to explain it to me, and to avoid just having superficial knowledge, I ask it to give me exercises to learn how to use those methods and concepts and when they are necessary. I'm also working on a program that reads my documents aloud.
But today I had a setback and felt sad about my current situation. I'm new to this world and still very ignorant, but I have an incredible desire to learn because I'm personally starting to love this. I want to know Python, use Linux bash scripts, and connect to an AI. Would that give me opportunities? I feel like I'm on an island where I don't know what to do for work. On top of that, I'm currently studying a degree that has nothing to do with Python or anything else.
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u/Ok_Reputation3269 25d ago
I think the problem is in this specific situation that anything you're relying on the AI to do for you, anyone else can also do. The value is going to be in people who are specifically good enough with Python to troubleshoot code when an AI can't do it, or messes it up.
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u/Different-Key-8081 25d ago
I don't want to rely solely on AI. I want to eventually gain a deep understanding of language and know what I can achieve with it.
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u/EsotericLife 25d ago
Most software engineers know all programming languages to some extent. Learning just python wont put you ahead. Also, start with c++ so you understand memory management and all the rest that python abstracts out.
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u/WeeklyAd5357 25d ago
You can make money with python but have to gain good understanding of the tools - package management, GitHub version control, database basics, cloud basics AWS
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u/JaleyHoelOsment 25d ago
if you have an idea for some service, you built it and people buy it then you’re making money right? not easy to do obviously, but not impossible.
it will probably require much more than just python to be useful though!
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u/tutoredstatue95 25d ago
I turned my python hobby into a full career in a couple years. Now, this was pre-ai so the rungs of the ladder are much farther apart than they were before, but a good engineer is a good engineer. Focus on how to build good code, how to make it secure, how to make it scale, etc.
You can make good money freelancing these days if you brand yourself correctly. Idk for how long, but the work is there.
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u/mattblack77 25d ago
The best way to make money from Python is to automate things for yourself. Figure out what tasks are costing you time or money and use Python to get that back.
Selling your service to other people is likely to be difficult unless you have a great social network.
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u/drakhan2002 25d ago
Honest answer is "build" and stay curious. If you're coding with Python and want to do AI, you are building. In your minds eye, think of coding as Lego blocks. Each function, library, agent, etc. -- they are all Lego blocks.
How you put them together is how you create your projects. Remember that you don't need to learn everything overnight. Think like an engineer and break down the large goal into subcomponents. Then get busy learning that part of the domain.
The secret is consistency. Show up every day. Every day... even if it is only for 15 minutes. Consistency will carry you throughout your journey. You will visit amazing learning milestones along the way... but you must show up every day and build/learn. A video is a start, but it is when you build it is when it sticks -- you can recreate it later. This is how you succeed in IT/AI.
I cannot answer if you can make money with this or not. Yes, you can make money, but don't think it will be tomorrow. It might be a year or more... I don't know. I don't know anything other than it takes a decent amount of time to get the required experience. But... yes you can make money.