Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Learn Python The Hard Way VS Fast.com

Compare Learn Python The Hard Way VS Fast.com and see what are their differences

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Learn Python The Hard Way logo Learn Python The Hard Way

One of the best guides to learn Python & coding in general

Fast.com logo Fast.com

Quickly test your internet speed with this fast-loading speed test powered by Netflix.
  • Learn Python The Hard Way Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-16
  • Fast.com Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-23

Learn Python The Hard Way features and specs

  • Hands-On Practice
    The book emphasizes learning through practical exercises, helping learners to reinforce their understanding by actively writing code and solving problems.
  • Structured Learning Path
    The book offers a well-defined progression path that gradually increases in complexity, making it suitable for beginners who need a clear roadmap.
  • Focus on Basics
    It emphasizes fundamental concepts and core programming skills, ensuring a solid foundation in Python programming.
  • Immediate Feedback
    By practicing exercises and checking their code against provided solutions, learners receive immediate feedback which facilitates faster learning.

Possible disadvantages of Learn Python The Hard Way

  • Limited Depth
    The book may not cover advanced Python topics in depth, which might be a limitation for intermediate learners needing more comprehensive material.
  • Learning Style Restriction
    The 'Hard Way' approach may not suit everyone, especially learners who prefer theoretical explanations before diving into coding exercises.
  • Paid Access
    Some of the content, especially the extended and video materials, require purchase, which might be a drawback for those seeking completely free resources.
  • Rigid Problem Solving
    Some users may find the exercise solutions to be somewhat rigid, not encouraging alternative problem-solving techniques or creative code implementations.

Fast.com features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Fast.com has a clean and straightforward interface, making it very easy for users to test their internet speed without any distractions or complications.
  • Ad-Free
    The website does not contain any advertisements, providing a seamless and uninterrupted user experience.
  • Integration with Netflix
    Fast.com is created by Netflix, which ensures that the speed test results are optimized for streaming services, giving users a reliable indicator of how well they can stream content on the platform.
  • Quick Results
    The speed test begins automatically as soon as the website loads, providing users with rapid results without the need for additional clicks or inputs.
  • Mobile-Friendly
    Fast.com is optimized for mobile devices, making it easy for users to test their internet speed on smartphones and tablets.

Possible disadvantages of Fast.com

  • Limited Metrics
    Fast.com primarily focuses on download speed and does not provide as comprehensive a range of metrics as some other speed test websites, such as upload speed, latency, and jitter.
  • No Server Selection
    Users cannot choose which server to run the speed test against, which can sometimes result in less accurate measurements for specific network conditions.
  • No Historical Data
    Fast.com does not offer features to save or track historical speed test results, limiting users' ability to monitor their internet performance over time.
  • Lack of Customization
    There are no options to customize the test parameters, such as test duration or concurrency levels, which might be relevant for more advanced users.
  • Geared for Streaming
    Since Fast.com is tailored for Netflix streaming, it may not fully represent other usage scenarios, such as gaming or file downloads, which require different network performances.

Analysis of Learn Python The Hard Way

Overall verdict

  • Learn Python The Hard Way is considered a good resource for beginners, especially those who prefer hands-on learning.

Why this product is good

  • This book adopts a practical approach, focusing on writing and testing code to reinforce concepts. It favors direct practice over theoretical explanation, which can be beneficial for learners who appreciate experiential learning. It also introduces debugging early on, which is a crucial skill for programming.

Recommended for

  • Absolute beginners who are new to programming.
  • Individuals who prefer learning by doing rather than just reading.
  • People looking for a structured, exercise-driven way to learn Python.

Analysis of Fast.com

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Fast.com is good for quickly assessing your internet download speed, particularly if you're interested in streaming quality on Netflix.

Why this product is good

  • Fast.com is a speed test tool developed by Netflix to help users evaluate their internet connection, particularly for streaming services. It is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and lack of ads, providing a quick way to measure download speeds using Netflix's servers.

Recommended for

  • Users who want a simple and ad-free internet speed test.
  • Anyone looking to check streaming speeds for Netflix.
  • People interested in basic information about their download speeds without detailed additional metrics.

Learn Python The Hard Way videos

Learn Python the Hard Way by Zed A Shaw: Review | Complete python tutorial. Learn Python coding

More videos:

  • Review - Learn Python The Hard Way - Review

Fast.com videos

Speedtest.net vs Fast.com | why different results ?

More videos:

  • Review - Measure your Internet speed with Fast.com
  • Review - Fast.com: Better than speedtest.net?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Learn Python The Hard Way and Fast.com)
Online Learning
100 100%
0% 0
Speed Test
0 0%
100% 100
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Fast.com seems to be a lot more popular than Learn Python The Hard Way. While we know about 1688 links to Fast.com, we've tracked only 14 mentions of Learn Python The Hard Way. 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.

Learn Python The Hard Way mentions (14)

  • Cloudflare Introduces Default Blocking of A.I. Data Scrapers
    These kinds of comparisons rarely lead to good discussions. Let's instead be focused and talk about real stuff. Consider https://learnpythonthehardway.org/ for example. It has influenced a generation of Python developers. Not just the main website, but the tons of Python code and Python-related content it inspired. Why would anyone write these kinds of textbooks/websites/guides if AI can replace them? Arguibly,... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Should I learn Python with GPT?
    Try this instead: https://learnpythonthehardway.org/ LLMs will give you an uncertain percentage of wrong answers. Itโ€™s like having a teacher that lies to you and doesnโ€™t know when they are lying and has zero understanding of the information they give you. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • How to Get Started as a New Open Source Contributor to PgAdmin4
    Basic Python Knowledge: Ensure you have a solid understanding of Python basics. Resources like Python.org and Learn Python the Hard Way are great starting points. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Python Concepts for Product Manager.
    Go here: https://learnpythonthehardway.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What is the best way to learn VFX Programming and Concepts for someone who is more โ€œartโ€ minded.
    Also, I havenโ€™t looked at it in a super long time but personally I got started with Python using https://learnpythonthehardway.org after originally training to be an artist and ended up having a pretty successful career in Pipeline instead. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Fast.com mentions (1688)

  • I Built a Fast.com for LLMs: Introducing iamspeed.dev
    That is exactly how fast.com works for internet speed tests. You open it, it runs, you see a number. Done. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Streaming the 2026 Winter Olympics: A Developer's Guide to Live Sports IPTV
    Pro tip: Run a speed test immediately before the event. Don't trust your "up to 100 Mbps" ISP claim. Use fast.com or speedtest.net to get real numbers. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Downdetector, Speedtest sold to IT service provider Accenture in $1.2B deal
    Speedtest has always seemed incredibly sketchy to me, I donโ€™t know if others share this sentiment. https://fast.com completed the test faster than speedtest loads the site. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW VPN IPSEC HOW TO CONFIGURATION HELPPPP
    Is this for remote access VPN? If so, what kind of bandwidth are you seeing on a speed test site like fast.com (with the VPN off) compared to the VPN bandwidth you're experiencing? Source: over 2 years ago
  • I am a MacOS user, new to windows and my wifi wonโ€™t load fast enough; are these updates the issue?
    What result do you get from fast.com ? What about if you ping your router? Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Learn Python The Hard Way and Fast.com, you can also consider the following products

Google's Python Class - Assorted educational materials provided by Google.

Speedtest.net - Test your Internet connection bandwidth to locations around the world with this interactive broadband speed test from Ookla

A Byte of Python - A Byte of Python is a Python programming tutorial and learning book that teaches you how to program with the Python programming language.

Testmy.net - Accurately test your Internet connection speed with this powerful broadband speed test. Improve your bandwidth speed with the truth.

Think Python - Learning Resources

Speed Test by Cloudflare - speed.cloudflare.com is a tool that allows you to measure the speed and consistency of your connection to the Internet. You can use it to verify that the speed your ISP promised you is the speed you are getting.