Hey there! I'm new to programming and currently diving into Eric Matthes' Python Crash Course. I'm considering starting with web scraping as a freelancer because it seems like a more manageable entry point. Eventually, I'd love to branch out into machine learning. I understand that there's a gap between the two fields, but I think web scraping could give me some valuable experience. I'd really appreciate any tips on how to start with either web scraping or machine learning! Thanks!
4 Answers
Web scraping is definitely a great start! You can even connect it to machine learning later on—like scraping Reddit comments and performing sentiment analysis with a model you train. Just dive in! If you find web scraping easy, you can always expand your skills later. Remember, even small projects are better than none!
I recommend investing an hour into research about both web scraping and machine learning. It’ll help you become more independent in your learning. If you still have questions after that, feel free to come back and ask!
Just a heads up—freelancing in this area is pretty competitive, so finding gigs might be tricky on popular sites. For machine learning, a lot of it revolves around using APIs, which means you won't be coding complex algorithms right away. Entry-level positions are demanding, so be prepared to learn a lot!
Web scraping provides practical experience, which is valuable. Machine learning usually involves a lot of theory and takes time to master, so starting with scraping could be beneficial as you build your skills.
Thanks for the advice! I'll check out /r/learnpython for more questions!