Hey everyone,

I’m trying to become an AI developer by December 2026, starting from beginner Python. I’m really motivated, but I keep feeling stuck and unsure if I’m learning the right way.

Right now, I’m working on a simple calculator that can save its history. The struggle is real — sometimes I spend hours just fixing syntax errors, like missing commas in dictionaries or small typos. It’s frustrating, and I worry I’m going about it the wrong way.

I’ve been debating between two approaches:

1. Copy a working example first, then go line by line to understand it, modify it, and eventually rebuild it from memory.
2. Force myself to write everything from scratch, even if it means debugging for hours.

I feel like copying might make me “lazy,” but writing everything myself seems painfully slow. For someone trying to learn efficiently and build skills fast, what would you recommend?

Has anyone here learned Python/AI from scratch under a tight timeline? How did you handle early mistakes and syntax errors without losing motivation?

I’d really appreciate honest feedback and tips — especially from people who went from beginner → working in AI.

Thanks!