The most common mistake people make choosing a learning path isn't picking the wrong specialisation. It's picking a specialisation before they're ready for one.
MyPyMentor has 8 paths: four in the Core Track and four Specialisations. Here's what's actually inside each one, who it's for, and the one decision that matters most before you start.
The Core Track: go in order
The Core Track is a progression, not a menu. Fundamentals → Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced. Each one builds on the last. If you're new to Python, you start at Fundamentals. Full stop.
🌱 Fundamentals (Free)
Variables, strings, numbers, control flow, loops. The absolute floor. If you've never written a line of Python, this is where you start. It's free, it covers everything you need to move forward, and it's designed to be completable in a few weeks of 20 minutes a day.
📘 Beginner
Data structures, file handling, error handling, modules, and a set of mini projects to apply everything. This is where most of the 'oh, I see how this works' moments happen. If you've done Fundamentals and want to actually build things, Beginner is next.
🚀 Intermediate
OOP, decorators, APIs, working with databases, and testing. This is the path that makes you a programmer rather than someone who knows syntax. The OOP module alone takes most people two to three weeks, and that's completely fine.
⚡ Advanced
Async programming, concurrency, metaprogramming, performance optimisation, and how Python actually works under the hood. For people who want to understand the language deeply, not just use it. Not required for most careers — but if you want it, it's thorough.
The Specialisations: pick one after Beginner
You don't need to finish the full Core Track before starting a Specialisation. After Beginner, you have the foundation to branch. The question is which direction you want to go.
📊 Data Science
NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, data cleaning, and statistics. For people who want to work with data professionally. If terms like 'data analyst', 'BI developer', or 'research assistant' are on your radar, this is your path.
🤖 Automation
File system operations, web scraping, workflow automation. For people who want to use Python as a productivity tool — automating repetitive tasks, building bots, scripting workflows. One of the fastest paths to something immediately useful at work.
🌐 Web Development
Flask, FastAPI, REST APIs, and database integration. For people who want to build web applications or backend services. FastAPI in particular is one of the best-designed frameworks in any language right now.
🧮 Algorithms & Data Structures
Big-O notation, sorting, trees, graphs, dynamic programming. For people preparing for technical interviews at software companies. This is the path that gets you ready for LeetCode-style problems. It's hard, it's genuinely valuable, and it's not for everyone.
The one decision that matters
Before you pick a Specialisation, ask yourself: do I know why I'm learning Python? Not in the abstract 'it'll be useful' sense — in the specific 'I want to do X' sense. If you don't have an answer yet, stay on the Core Track. A clear direction makes learning faster because every lesson connects to something you actually want.
Ayodele Ayodeji
Founder, MyPyMentor
Founder of MyPyMentor. Building AI tools that help people learn Python without quitting.