Hey everyone! I'm a 16-year-old self-taught programmer from Argentina, and I've been learning Python for a few months after completing the CS50P course. For practice, I created a script for a local clothing store that uses an AI API to generate catalog images, like removing watermarks and color correcting photos. The store owner loved it and actually paid me $500, which is a big deal for me. Now, they want me to help automate more of their business tasks like handling Excel files, SEO, and logistics, but I feel a bit overwhelmed. I'm still getting the hang of the basics, and I'm worried about managing 'real' business data and more complex automation. I have a couple of questions for those experienced in the field: 1. Is it common to start freelancing at my level of knowledge? 2. For automation tasks involving Excel and logistics, should I prioritize learning pandas or openpyxl, or are there better tools for a beginner? I really want to make sure I don't mess this up! Thanks for reading!
2 Answers
Hey! Don't worry too much; it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when starting out. Many people begin freelancing early on, and the important part is you’re already delivering work that people love! Just stay open to learning as you go. Joining some Python Discord groups can be super helpful for getting tips from others, too.
Congrats! You're already ahead of many people. For your Excel automation, I recommend focusing on pandas for data manipulation and analysis, since it's widely used and you'll get more community support. If you need to format Excel files specifically, look into openpyxl as well. And remember, what you’ve built is really impressive! Consider scaling it into an app and possibly charging a subscription model instead of a one-time fee for future projects—I think you'll do great!
Thank you for the encouragement! I definitely see the potential for scaling this, and I'll keep these tools in mind!