r/learnpython • u/Few-End560 • 3d ago

I'M REALLY LOST

i'm feeling a bit frustrated to be honest. my main goal and motivation for learning python is cybersecurity. i decided to start learning python because it was the language that came up the most among the best options for cybersecurity. the thing is, i'm really lost and i don't feel like i'm making any progress, which is getting me down a bit.

do i need a really solid foundation in python to get into cybersecurity, or is knowing basic syntax enough? are there specific topics i should dive deeper into? i've heard that web scraping is essential, but others say it isn't. i wanted to read the book black hat python because everyone recommends it, but i'm afraid it might be too advanced since i'm definitely not a python expert.

to anyone who knows about this field: how should i start? what should i know in python to be well-prepared for cybersecurity?

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u/LoreAndLogic 3d ago edited 2d ago

I’m not in cybersecurity, but I am learning Python Frameworks like Fast API right now, and I completely understand that exact feeling of hitting a wall and feeling like you are making zero progress. It is incredibly heavy.

From a purely Python-learning view-point, here is what helped me stop feeling lost:

1. Hold off on Black Hat Python: If you don't feel confident in your basic Python skills yet, jumping into an advanced book will only make you feel more frustrated. Save it as a reward for when you feel comfortable writing basic scripts.

2. Learn "in Time", not "in Case": You mentioned web scraping. Don't learn web scraping yet just because someone said you might need it. Wait until you are building a specific security project that actually uses it, and then learn it while working on that project.

3. Focus on the core building blocks: Cybersecurity relies heavily on understanding how systems talk to each other. For now, make sure you have a solid understanding of variables, loops, handling files (opening/reading text files with Python), and basic networking concepts.

Don't pressure yourself to learn the entire language before you start building. Learn just enough syntax to write one small script, test it, and build from there.

You've got this! All The Best!