Invent With Python VS The Coding Train

The Coding Train

Online learning resource for beginner-friendly creative coding tutorials and challenges.

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2022-10-05

Landing page //
2023-09-14

Invent With Python

Website: inventwithpython.com

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The Coding Train

Website: thecodingtrain.com

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Invent With Python features and specs

Beginner-Friendly
Invent With Python offers a gentle introduction to programming for beginners, using engaging and straightforward examples that make learning fun and approachable.
Free Resources
The website provides free access to its content, including complete books, which removes financial barriers for learners and educators looking for quality programming materials.
Hands-On Projects
The site emphasizes learning by doing, with numerous hands-on projects and exercises that help learners apply concepts in practical scenarios.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Each project and concept is broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, making it easier for learners to follow along and understand complex ideas.
Wide Range of Topics
The site covers a diverse array of programming topics, from basic syntax to more advanced concepts, catering to a broad audience with varying levels of experience.

Possible disadvantages of Invent With Python

Limited Advanced Content
While great for beginners, the website may not offer enough depth or advanced content for more experienced programmers looking to deepen their knowledge.
Python-Focused
The resources are primarily focused on Python, which might not be as useful for learners who want to explore other programming languages or languages more commonly used in certain industries.
Self-Paced Learning Challenges
Self-paced learning requires a high level of self-motivation and discipline, which can be challenging for some learners who might benefit from more structured environments or instructor-led courses.
Lack of Interactive Features
The website's content is predominantly in book format, which may lack the interactive elements and immediate feedback found in other online learning platforms that support coding sandboxes or quizzes.

The Coding Train features and specs

Comprehensive Content
The Coding Train offers a wide range of tutorials and courses that cover various programming languages and technologies, providing a comprehensive learning resource for beginners and advanced users alike.
Engaging Teaching Style
Daniel Shiffman, the creator of The Coding Train, is known for his enthusiastic and engaging teaching style that makes complex topics more approachable and fun to learn.
Community Support
The Coding Train has a strong community of learners and contributors, providing additional support, collaboration opportunities, and feedback through forums and social media platforms.
Free Access
A significant amount of content on The Coding Train is available for free, making it accessible to learners from different backgrounds and financial situations.
Creative Approach
The platform encourages a creative approach to learning programming by integrating art and visual experiments, which can be particularly appealing to visual learners and those interested in creative coding.

Possible disadvantages of The Coding Train

Variable Depth
While The Coding Train covers a wide variety of topics, the depth of coverage can vary, and some complex topics may not be explored in detail, potentially requiring supplemental resources for thorough understanding.
Unstructured Paths
The coding tutorials and projects are available in a non-linear format, which might be overwhelming for new learners who benefit from a more structured, step-by-step learning path.
Focus on JavaScript and p5.js
Much of the content focuses on JavaScript and the p5.js library, which might not be ideal for learners looking to study other languages or frameworks comprehensively.
Limited Interactive Features
The platform primarily consists of video tutorials, which might not offer the same level of interactivity and immediate feedback as some modern coding platforms with in-browser coding and hands-on exercises.

Analysis of Invent With Python

Overall verdict

Invent With Python is a highly recommended resource for beginners who want to learn Python effectively through practical exercises and easy-to-follow instructions.

Why this product is good

Invent With Python is widely regarded as a good resource because it provides clear, beginner-friendly tutorials and projects tailored to those new to programming. The materials are structured in a way that makes learning Python engaging and fun, focusing on hands-on projects that reinforce concepts. The website is created by Al Sweigart, a well-known author in the programming community, whose books are valued for their clarity and practicality.

Recommended for

Beginners in programming
Individuals interested in learning Python
Hobbyists looking to build practical projects
Students needing a supplementary learning resource
Educators seeking teaching materials for Python

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Invent With Python and The Coding Train)

The Coding Train

Education

82 82%

Education

18% 18

Game Development

100 100%

Game Development

0% 0

Open Source

0 0%

Open Source

100% 100

Kids Education

100 100%

Kids Education

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Invent With Python and The Coding Train. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Invent With Python should be more popular than The Coding Train. It has been mentiond 141 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Invent With Python mentions (141)

Free Python Resources
Created by Al Sweigart, author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Invent with Python aims to make programming accessible, approachable, and fun, using Python as a powerful and beginner-friendly language. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
Courses/Resources to prepare a 12 year old for the future of Coding/AI.
Not courses, but Al Sweigart's "Invent with Python" are excellent. (The two games books and code cracking are excellent to start with.) Https://inventwithpython.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
Books for a young person to learn how to code with Raspberry Pi
Check /u/alsweigart' s books on Automate the Boring Stuff with Python and on Invent your own Computer Games with Python. Source: almost 3 years ago
2,000 free sign ups available for the "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" online course. (July 2023)
This Udemy course covers roughly the same content as the 1st edition book (the book has a little bit more, but all the basics are covered in the online course), which you can read for free online at https://inventwithpython.com. Source: about 3 years ago
What is a good way for non-creatives to express creativity in a way that feels comfortable to them?
I also consider computer programming to be very creative. You may wish to learn the Python language. Python is a great starting language and very practical. There's some excellent free books here https://inventwithpython.com/ His book Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is very practical with real world uses. Source: about 3 years ago

The Coding Train mentions (24)

p5.js
He has a knack for picking visual interesting problems/algorithms and his enthusiasm is unmatched. https://thecodingtrain.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Was BASIC that horrible or better?
I'd say Scratch is the #1 way kids to day are introduced to programming For parent that have some 8bit experience, Pico-8 (LUA) is also relatively popular. It's basically like running an Apple 2, Atari 800, Commodore 64 as if it booted into LUA instead of Basic. You can trivially draw things, and peak and poke bytes into "Screen memory" if you want to feel like you're "touching the hardware" JavaScript is also... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
Sketch execution issues
You can always look at the help videos by Shiffman at (the coding train) Specifically: help guide to p5js. Source: about 3 years ago
Ask HN: How to teach a kid of 15 Linux and programming
> how do I get him learning programming in a fun way? Processing / P5.js can be pretty fun to learn. You use a real programming language to create art and animations. With little code you can get a circle on the screen, then making it move, then following your mouse, then adding other shapes, then changing colour depending on some event… It’s conductive to experimentation and a way to gradually introduce concepts.... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
Help needed: Rinkeby and other test networks won't appear
Another great free site https://thecodingtrain.com/ to have in your pocket :D have fun out there! Source: over 3 years ago