Temporal 101: Learn Temporal with Python

We’re excited to announce the release of our Temporal 101 in Python course! The course is free, online, and self-paced, meaning you can start learning at any time and complete the curriculum on a schedule that works for you. The course was designed for developers who are new to Temporal and want to quickly learn the fundamentals.. Although the code examples and hands-on exercises are written in Python, they include explanations and avoid advanced language features, so a developer with minimal Python experience should be able to successfully complete this course.

During the past nine months we released numerous courses in our Introduction to Temporal series—Temporal 101 in Go, Temporal 101 in Typescript, and Temporal 101 in Java—and thousands of people signed up for the course. Our newest course covers the same fundamental Temporal concepts covered in our 101 courses but uses our Python SDK.

The 101 courses assume you have no prior knowledge of Temporal. Registration is required, however, so that you can save your progress and we can verify course completions. The course combines written content, videos (with complete transcripts), assessments, and hands-on exercises. We find that most learners can complete the course in about two hours, but you can go as slow or as fast as you like. You will get a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

No Software Downloads Required

We know that not everyone is able or willing to install software on their computers. That's why this course uses a browser-based exercise environment provided through GitPod, available at no cost to you. Using a standard Web browser such as Chrome or Firefox, you'll have access to a private Temporal Cluster, as well as terminal windows where you can type commands and an editor you can use to write your code. The only thing you'll need besides a Web browser is a GitHub account that you can log into from that browser. (GitPod uses your account to install the exercise code you use during the course.)

Should I Complete 101 in Python if I’ve Already Taken 101 in Go, Typescript, or Java?

We know that a lot of people took 101 in Go, Typescript, Java because they were the only Temporal courses available, so there are a few things to consider if you are asking yourself this question.

If you use, or are planning to use, the Temporal Python SDK, absolutely take 101 in Python because you will learn more about the specific features of our Python SDK.

If you’ve already taken 101 in Go, Typescript or Java, but you’d like to strengthen your understanding of the core components of Temporal—Workflows, Activities, Workers, and Clients—taking the Temporal 101 in Python course can help you get some repetition of the concepts in the context of the Python SDK.

If you’re ready to move on to the next course in our introductory series, you should check out Temporal 102. Currently the course is supported only in the Go programming language, but it will be available in TypeScript and Java by the end of Q3. Temporal 102 in Python should be available by the end of 2023.

More Courses!

We announced this course a week ago to members of our Temporal Education Updates mailing list. If you'd like to be among the first to learn about new courses, including the availability of Temporal 102 in Java, TypeScript or Python, we encourage you to sign up so we can notify you, too.

We have a vibrant community of Temporal users. If you’re not already part of it, please feel free to join our Community Slack and check out our Community Forum.

We hope you get a chance to take one of our courses and join our community so you can build durable apps.