Python Projects

Introduction to Python Projects

Now that you've learned the fundamentals of Python, it's time to apply your knowledge to real-world projects. These projects will help you practice what you've learned and build a portfolio to showcase your skills.

Project Guidelines

Start with a clear problem statement
Plan your approach before coding
Break the project into smaller tasks
Test your code frequently
Document your code
Seek feedback and improve

Project 1: To-Do List Application

Project Overview

Create a command-line to-do list application that allows users to add, view, complete, and delete tasks. The tasks should be saved to a file so they persist between program runs.

Features:

Add new tasks
View all tasks
Mark tasks as complete
Delete tasks
Save tasks to a file
Load tasks from a file

Implementation Steps:

Design the data structure for tasks (dictionary with id, description, status)
Create functions for each operation (add, view, complete, delete)
Implement file I/O to save/load tasks
Create a user-friendly menu system
Add input validation
Test thoroughly

import json
import os

FILENAME = 'todo.json'

def load_tasks():
    if os.path.exists(FILENAME):
        with open(FILENAME, 'r') as file:
            return json.load(file)
    return {}

def save_tasks(tasks):
    with open(FILENAME, 'w') as file:
        json.dump(tasks, file, indent=4)

def add_task(tasks):
    description = input("Enter task description: ").strip()
    if not description:
        print("Description cannot be empty!")
        return
    
    task_id = str(len(tasks) + 1)
    tasks[task_id] = {
        'description': description,
        'completed': False
    }
    save_tasks(tasks)
    print(f"Task {task_id} added successfully!")

def view_tasks(tasks):
    if not tasks:
        print("No tasks found!")
        return
    
    print("\n--- Your Tasks ---")
    for task_id, task in tasks.items():
        status = "✓" if task['completed'] else " "
        print(f"{task_id}. [{status}] {task['description']}")
    print("------------------")

def complete_task(tasks):
    view_tasks(tasks)
    if not tasks:
        return
    
    task_id = input("Enter task ID to mark as complete: ").strip()
    if task_id in tasks:
        tasks[task_id]['completed'] = True
        save_tasks(tasks)
        print(f"Task {task_id} marked as complete!")
    else:
        print("Invalid task ID!")

def delete_task(tasks):
    view_tasks(tasks)
    if not tasks:
        return
    
    task_id = input("Enter task ID to delete: ").strip()
    if task_id in tasks:
        del tasks[task_id]
        save_tasks(tasks)
        print(f"Task {task_id} deleted!")
    else:
        print("Invalid task ID!")

def main():
    tasks = load_tasks()
    
    while True:
        print("\n--- To-Do List Menu ---")
        print("1. View Tasks")
        print("2. Add Task")
        print("3. Complete Task")
        print("4. Delete Task")
        print("5. Exit")
        
        choice = input("Enter your choice (1-5): ").strip()
        
        if choice == '1':
            view_tasks(tasks)
        elif choice == '2':
            add_task(tasks)
        elif choice == '3':
            complete_task(tasks)
        elif choice == '4':
            delete_task(tasks)
        elif choice == '5':
            print("Goodbye!")
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid choice. Please try again.")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Project 2: Quiz Application

Project Overview

Create a quiz application that reads questions from a file, presents them to the user, and keeps track of the score. The application should support multiple choice and true/false questions.

Features:

Load questions from a JSON file
Support multiple question types
Calculate and display score
Provide feedback on answers
Show final results

Implementation Steps:

Design the question format (JSON structure)
Create a function to load questions
Implement the quiz logic
Add score tracking
Display results

import json
import random

# Sample questions (save as questions.json)
SAMPLE_QUESTIONS = {
    "questions": [
        {
            "question": "What is the capital of France?",
            "type": "multiple_choice",
            "options": ["London", "Berlin", "Paris", "Madrid"],
            "answer": 2,
            "points": 1
        },
        {
            "question": "Python is an interpreted language.",
            "type": "true_false",
            "answer": True,
            "points": 1
        },
        {
            "question": "Which of these are Python data types?",
            "type": "multiple_choice",
            "options": ["int", "string", "list", "all of the above"],
            "answer": 3,
            "points": 2
        }
    ]
}

def load_questions(filename='questions.json'):
    try:
        with open(filename, 'r') as file:
            return json.load(file)['questions']
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print(f"Error: {filename} not found. Using sample questions.")
        return SAMPLE_QUESTIONS['questions']
    except json.JSONDecodeError:
        print("Error: Invalid JSON format. Using sample questions.")
        return SAMPLE_QUESTIONS['questions']

def ask_question(question, question_num):
    print(f"\nQuestion {question_num}: {question['question']}")
    
    if question['type'] == 'multiple_choice':
        for i, option in enumerate(question['options'], 1):
            print(f"{i}. {option}")
        
        while True:
            try:
                answer = int(input("Your answer (1-4): ")) - 1
                if 0 <= answer < len(question['options']):
                    return answer == question['answer']
                print("Please enter a valid option number.")
            except ValueError:
                print("Please enter a number.")
    
    elif question['type'] == 'true_false':
        while True:
            answer = input("True or False? (t/f): ").lower()
            if answer in ['t', 'true']:
                return question['answer'] is True
            elif answer in ['f', 'false']:
                return question['answer'] is False
            print("Please enter 't' for True or 'f' for False.")

def run_quiz():
    print("\n=== Python Quiz ===")
    print("Answer the following questions. Good luck!\n")
    
    questions = load_questions()
    random.shuffle(questions)  # Shuffle questions
    
    score = 0
    max_score = sum(q.get('points', 1) for q in questions)
    
    for i, question in enumerate(questions, 1):
        if ask_question(question, i):
            points = question.get('points', 1)
            score += points
            print(f"✓ Correct! +{points} point{'s' if points > 1 else ''}")
        else:
            print("✗ Incorrect!")
    
    print(f"\n=== Quiz Complete! ===")
    print(f"Your score: {score}/{max_score}")
    percentage = (score / max_score) * 100
    print(f"Percentage: {percentage:.1f}%")
    
    if percentage >= 80:
        print("Excellent! 🎉")
    elif percentage >= 60:
        print("Good job! 👍")
    else:
        print("Keep practicing! 💪")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    run_quiz()

Project 3: Contact Book

Project Overview

Create a contact book application that allows users to store, search, and manage their contacts. The contacts should be saved to a file for persistence.

Features:

Add new contacts
View all contacts
Search for contacts
Update existing contacts
Delete contacts
Save/load contacts to/from a file

Implementation Steps:

Design the contact data structure
Implement CRUD operations
Add search functionality
Implement file I/O
Create a user-friendly interface

import json
import os
from datetime import datetime

FILENAME = 'contacts.json'

def load_contacts():
    if os.path.exists(FILENAME):
        with open(FILENAME, 'r') as file:
            return json.load(file)
    return {}

def save_contacts(contacts):
    with open(FILENAME, 'w') as file:
        json.dump(contacts, file, indent=4)

def add_contact(contacts):
    print("\n--- Add New Contact ---")
    
    while True:
        name = input("Name: ").strip()
        if name:
            break
        print("Name cannot be empty!")
    
    phone = input("Phone: ").strip()
    email = input("Email: ").strip()
    address = input("Address: ").strip()
    
    contact_id = str(datetime.now().timestamp())
    contacts[contact_id] = {
        'name': name,
        'phone': phone,
        'email': email,
        'address': address,
        'created_at': datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
    }
    
    save_contacts(contacts)
    print(f"\nContact '{name}' added successfully!")

def view_contacts(contacts):
    if not contacts:
        print("\nNo contacts found!")
        return
    
    print("\n--- Your Contacts ---")
    for contact_id, contact in contacts.items():
        print(f"\nID: {contact_id}")
        print(f"Name: {contact['name']}")
        print(f"Phone: {contact['phone']}")
        print(f"Email: {contact['email']}")
        print(f"Address: {contact['address']}")
        print(f"Added: {contact['created_at']}")
    print("-------------------")

def search_contacts(contacts):
    if not contacts:
        print("\nNo contacts to search!")
        return
    
    search_term = input("\nEnter name or phone number to search: ").strip().lower()
    if not search_term:
        print("Search term cannot be empty!")
        return
    
    found = False
    print("\n--- Search Results ---")
    for contact_id, contact in contacts.items():
        if (search_term in contact['name'].lower() or 
            search_term in contact['phone']):
            print(f"\nID: {contact_id}")
            print(f"Name: {contact['name']}")
            print(f"Phone: {contact['phone']}")
            found = True
    
    if not found:
        print("No matching contacts found.")
    print("----------------------")

def update_contact(contacts):
    view_contacts(contacts)
    if not contacts:
        return
    
    contact_id = input("\nEnter contact ID to update: ").strip()
    if contact_id not in contacts:
        print("Contact not found!")
        return
    
    contact = contacts[contact_id]
    print("\nLeave blank to keep current value.")
    
    name = input(f"Name [{contact['name']}]: ").strip()
    phone = input(f"Phone [{contact['phone']}]: ").strip()
    email = input(f"Email [{contact['email']}]: ").strip()
    address = input(f"Address [{contact['address']}]: ").strip()
    
    if name:
        contact['name'] = name
    if phone:
        contact['phone'] = phone
    if email:
        contact['email'] = email
    if address:
        contact['address'] = address
    
    save_contacts(contacts)
    print("\nContact updated successfully!")

def delete_contact(contacts):
    view_contacts(contacts)
    if not contacts:
        return
    
    contact_id = input("\nEnter contact ID to delete: ").strip()
    if contact_id in contacts:
        name = contacts[contact_id]['name']
        del contacts[contact_id]
        save_contacts(contacts)
        print(f"\nContact '{name}' deleted successfully!")
    else:
        print("Contact not found!")

def main():
    contacts = load_contacts()
    
    while True:
        print("\n--- Contact Book Menu ---")
        print("1. View All Contacts")
        print("2. Add New Contact")
        print("3. Search Contacts")
        print("4. Update Contact")
        print("5. Delete Contact")
        print("6. Exit")
        
        choice = input("\nEnter your choice (1-6): ").strip()
        
        if choice == '1':
            view_contacts(contacts)
        elif choice == '2':
            add_contact(contacts)
        elif choice == '3':
            search_contacts(contacts)
        elif choice == '4':
            update_contact(contacts)
        elif choice == '5':
            delete_contact(contacts)
        elif choice == '6':
            print("\nGoodbye!")
            break
        else:
            print("\nInvalid choice. Please try again.")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Next Steps in Your Python Journey

Learn More Libraries

NumPy for numerical computing
Pandas for data analysis
Matplotlib/Seaborn for data visualization
Flask/Django for web development
Pygame for game development

Build Projects

Web scraper
Weather app with API
Blog/CMS system
Chat application
Automation scripts

Join Communities

r/learnpython on Reddit
Python Discord server
Local Python meetups
GitHub open source projects
Stack Overflow for Q&A

7.5 Python Projects

Introduction to Python Projects

Project Guidelines

Project 1: To-Do List Application

Project Overview

Features:

Implementation Steps:

Project 2: Quiz Application

Project Overview

Features:

Implementation Steps:

Project 3: Contact Book

Project Overview

Features:

Implementation Steps:

Next Steps in Your Python Journey

Learn More Libraries

Build Projects

Join Communities