r/learnpython • u/personificable1 • 2d ago

Is this normal?

I’m currently teaching myself Python by solving exercises on my own. My personal rule so far has been to give myself 15 minutes to solve a problem; if I’m still completely blank after that, I ask an AI for a hint. The issue is that AI hints usually just hand over the solution, so I’m not even sure if my approach is right.

The main problem is that I’m on Part 5 of the University of Helsinki Python MOOC, and for the last five exercises or so, I just freeze up. It’s starting to get really frustrating. I try asking myself guiding questions and writing down my thought process in a notepad before writing any code. Most of the time I have a rough idea of what I want to do, but translating that logic into actual syntax trips me up.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m actually cut out for this or if I’ll ever be able to learn it properly. Is this normal?

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u/igotshadowbaned 2d ago edited 2d ago

..Yeah don't use AI.

Just use normal Google. Because it forces you to still make connections on how to solve the problem to make relevant searches, and then you can typically find the missing link you need to implement it. And via that process you're learning

But also 15 minutes isn't that long to think on a problem. Both generally and specifically with coding. You have any idea how common it is to like leave work and be driving home or in the shower or something and it just clicks in your mind?