Which Programming Course Should You Take? Python, PLC, or AWS Compared

Choosing a programming course starts with the end destination. Are you writing your first Python games, learning ladder logic for factory controls, or designing cloud applications on AWS? These four self-paced options cover three different programming worlds, so the right pick depends on where you want your skills to show up.

Quick take

The Python book is the lowest-cost way into coding fundamentals. The PLC Trainer bundle and PLC Video Course cover industrial controls with different included media, while the AWS book is the one to pick when your goal is cloud application design.

Four options at a glance

Decision matrix

Product notes

Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4th Edition / Python Crash Course

If you're new to programming and want a project-first path, Al Sweigart's fourth edition takes a friendly, game-building route through Python. The 376-page trade paperback is written for beginners, and the title also names Python Crash Course as a companion, giving you a second learning track alongside the fourth edition. At a listed price of $22.95, it is the lowest-priced option here. The main limitation is the used Good condition, so expect normal wear rather than a pristine copy. If your target is industrial controls or cloud architecture, one of the other options in this group will match better.

PLC Trainer & Training Course + Simulator (2026 Edition)

For someone aiming at industrial automation, this Allen-Bradley-oriented bundle combines structured video lessons, a ladder logic simulator, and a reference library on a CD. It is built around the MicroLogix1000 controller platform, and the 2026 edition includes expanded training and sample exercises. The listed price is $29.99, the highest of the four, and the format gives you a physical CD plus a simulator for hands-on practice. The catch is that no PLC hardware is included, so you are working in software. Also note the condition is New - Open box, which means the original packaging was opened.

PLC Video Training Course (2026 Edition)

If you prefer video-led learning and want the course on a USB drive, this 2026 edition is the more portable PLC option. It focuses on the same Allen-Bradley-style ladder logic simulator and MicroLogix1000 platform as the other PLC bundle, but delivers the training as video with the trainer program included. At $24.99, it costs less than the CD-based PLC package while giving you the simulator and structured lessons. The limitation is the same: no PLC hardware is bundled, and the condition is New - Open box. For someone who wants USB portability instead of a CD, this version is the one to pick.

Learning AWS, Second Edition

For IT professionals moving into cloud work, this book focuses on designing, building, and deploying responsive applications with AWS Cloud components. The second edition is a trade paperback by Aurobindo Sarkar and Amit Shah, and its listed price is $24.22. The Good condition means the pages may contain notes or highlighting, and the spine may show wear, so it is a reading copy rather than a collectible. If your goal is PLC or Python, the matching option is elsewhere in this group, but for solution architects and developers using AWS, the second edition offers a direct path to cloud application design.

Final recommendation

• If you are starting from zero in programming, choose the Python book and use its game projects to build momentum.
• If you work in or plan to enter industrial controls, choose one of the PLC bundles: the PLC Trainer & Training Course + Simulator or the PLC Video Training Course.
• If you are already comfortable with IT fundamentals and need AWS architecture skills, choose Learning AWS, Second Edition.