Python Projects to Boost Your Programming Skills

Whether you’re just starting with Python or looking to challenge yourself with more complex projects, building practical applications is one of the best ways to enhance your coding skills. This blog post outlines three Python projects, ranging from beginner-friendly to a more advanced level.

Each project includes an overview, specific requirements, example use cases with expected results, and starter code with default functions to help you get started. We also have included Python Playgrounds / Python Fiddlers for you to write and edit code directly on this web page!

Here are the three projects that we have set up for you:

• Simple Calculator App
• Todo List Application
• Weather Information Retriever

Let’s get started!

Project 1: Simple Calculator App

Create a command-line calculator that performs basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This project is perfect for beginners to get comfortable with Python syntax, functions, and user input/output.

Specific Requirements

• Operations: The calculator should handle addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/).
• User Input: Prompt the user to enter two numbers and an operator.
• Validation: Include error handling for invalid inputs, such as division by zero or non-numeric entries.
• Functions: Use separate functions for each arithmetic operation.
• Loop: Allow the user to perform multiple calculations until they choose to exit.

Example Use Case and Expected Results

Use Case: A user wants to calculate the result of 15 divided by 3.

Expected Interaction:

Enter the first number: 15
Enter an operator (+, -, *, /): /
Enter the second number: 3
Result: 15 / 3 = 5.0
Would you like to perform another calculation? (yes/no): no
Thank you for using the calculator!

Starter Code

For each project, we have included an interactive Trinket with baseline code. Before diving into the starter code, here’s what you’ll need to implement:

• Complete the arithmetic operation functions (add, subtract, multiply, divide) by adding the appropriate logic.
• Implement error handling in the divide function to manage division by zero.
• Ensure the calculate function correctly calls the operation functions based on the user input.
• Add input validation to handle non-numeric inputs and invalid operators.
• Make sure the loop in the calculate function allows the user to perform multiple calculations until they decide to exit.

The following starter code provides the basic structure of the calculator program. You can use it to jump-start your project by filling in the missing parts.

This code sets up the structure with functions for each arithmetic operation and a main calculate() function to manage user interaction. By completing the add, subtract, multiply, and divide functions, you’ll have a working calculator program. Use this starter code to jump-start your project and focus on implementing the core logic.

Project 2: Todo List Application

Develop a simple command-line todo list application that allows users to add, view, and remove tasks. This project introduces beginners to data structures like lists and basic file operations for data persistence.

Specific Requirements

• Features:
• Add Task: Users can add new tasks.
• View Tasks: Display all current tasks with numbering.
• Remove Task: Users can remove a task by its number.
• Data Persistence: Save the tasks to a text file so that the list persists between sessions.
• User Interface: Provide a menu-driven interface for user interaction.
• Input Validation: Handle invalid inputs gracefully.

Example Use Case and Expected Results

Use Case: A user wants to manage their daily tasks.

Expected Interaction:

Welcome to the Todo List App!

Menu:
1. Add a Task
2. View Tasks
3. Remove a Task
4. Exit

Enter your choice: 1
Enter the task: Buy groceries
Task added successfully!

Menu:
1. Add a Task
2. View Tasks
3. Remove a Task
4. Exit

Enter your choice: 2
Your Tasks:
1. Buy groceries

Menu:
1. Add a Task
2. View Tasks
3. Remove a Task
4. Exit

Enter your choice: 4
Thank you for using the Todo List App!

Starter Code

Before using the starter code, consider the following tasks:

• Implement the add_task function to append a new task to the list and save it to the file.
• Complete the view_tasks function to display the list of tasks with numbering.
• Fill in the remove_task function to allow users to remove a task by entering its number.
• Ensure that tasks are loaded from and saved to a file (tasks.txt) for data persistence.
• Add input validation to handle cases where the user enters invalid choices or task numbers.
• Enhance the user interface by improving the menu and prompts as needed.

This code provides the basic structure of the application, including functions for loading and saving tasks, and a main loop for user interaction. Use this starter code to jump-start your project by implementing the functions for adding, viewing, and removing tasks.

Project 3: Weather Information Retriever

Build a program that fetches and displays the current weather information for a given city. This project introduces you to working with APIs, JSON data, and error handling in a real-world scenario.

Specific Requirements

• API Integration: Use a weather API like OpenWeatherMap to fetch data.
• User Input: Prompt the user to enter a city name.
• Data Parsing: Extract relevant information such as temperature, weather description, humidity, and wind speed from the API response.
• Error Handling: Manage errors such as invalid city names or network issues.
• Units: Allow the user to choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Example Use Case and Expected Results

Use Case: A user wants to know the current weather in New York City.

Expected Interaction:

Enter the city name: New York
Choose temperature unit (C/F): F

Fetching weather data...

Current Weather in New York:
- Temperature: 75°F
- Description: Clear sky
- Humidity: 60%
- Wind Speed: 5 mph

Would you like to check another city? (yes/no): no
Thank you for using the Weather Information Retriever!

Starter Code

Before working with the starter code, you’ll need to:

• Obtain an API key from OpenWeatherMap and replace "YOUR_API_KEY" with your actual key.
• Implement the get_api_key function to return your API key.
• Complete the get_weather_data function to fetch weather data using the API.
• Implement error handling in case of invalid city names or network errors.
• Fill in the display_weather function to parse and display the weather information.
• Ensure the units are correctly handled based on user input (Celsius or Fahrenheit).
• Enhance the user interaction loop to allow checking multiple cities.

Use this starter code to begin your project. Make sure to fill in the missing parts and implement the required functionalities.

Conclusion

These three projects are designed to help you apply Python programming concepts in practical scenarios. The first two projects are ideal for beginners to get comfortable with basic Python syntax and structures. The third project introduces API interaction and data parsing, offering a moderate challenge.

By starting with the provided code templates and the outlined tasks, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon. As you implement each function and feature, you’ll gain hands-on experience that will be invaluable in your journey to becoming a proficient Python developer.

Happy coding!