Five-Project Series

Explore Python Fundamentals, Part 2 you own this product

prerequisites
Python “shell” such as Jupyter Notebook • understand how to use function parameters and default parameters • iterate over lists using for loops
skills learned
functions as dictionary values • ways to sort a list • how the import process works
Naomi Ceder
5 weeks · 1-3 hours per week average · INTERMEDIATE

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In this series of liveProjects, you'll hone your Python skills with core techniques, functions, and data structures in Python. Practicing these skills against hands-on challenges will improve your ability to understand Python code, and flexibly use the language.

These projects are designed for learning purposes and are not complete, production-ready applications or solutions.

here's what's included

Project 1 Functions as Objects

In this liveProject, you’ll create Python functions for specific data cleaning operations to help import product data from a legacy system into a new pipeline. You’ll work with a delimited text file with unhandy export conventions, and utilize functions to clean and convert fields for cleaner and seamless data transfer. You’ll even break your new operations down into separate functions so that you can easily reuse your code at a later date.

Project 2 Lists

In this liveProject, you’ll utilize Python to create new data reports from a centralized system. You’ll work with raw data about the sales of various products, and massage it into a different format from which subreports can be extracted. To do this, you’ll make use of lists—one of the most common data structures in Python that are at the heart of data processing.

Project 3 Dictionaries

In this liveProject, you’ll utilize Python dictionaries to efficiently combine a file of product info and a file of sales entries. You’ll take on the role of a data engineer in a company that has been modernizing its sales systems, and tackle a common data merging task to help generate useful reports. Solve the challenges of this project, and you’ll understand the real power and flexibility of dictionaries and how they are used literally everywhere in Python.

Project 4 Import

In this liveProject, you’ll refactor a legacy module with unpredictable functionality to make it fit for your needs. The module behaves strangely whenever you import it, and so your task is to find the problem by exploring the ways that import in Python works. Your new knowledge will allow you to fix the issues in the test module, and create safer modules and multi-module packages.

Project 5 Exceptions

In this liveProject, you’ll explore the unique way that exceptions work in Python. Python makes frequent use of exceptions, but they often function in a very different way than other programming languages. You’ll experiment with the basic try-and-except structure used for handling exceptions, then dive into using inheritance with exceptions, and creating your own hierarchy of exceptions.

book resources

When you start each of the projects in this series, you'll get full access to the following book for 90 days.

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project author

Naomi Ceder
Naomi Ceder is the former chair of the Python Software Foundation. She has been learning, using, and teaching Python since 2001.

Prerequisites

This liveProject is for both new and experienced Python programmers who want to improve their understanding of the language. To begin this liveProject you will need to be familiar with the following:


TOOLS
  • A Python “shell” such as Jupyter Notebook
TECHNIQUES
  • Define a function
  • Understand how to use function parameters and default parameters
  • Use a Python command shell or Jupyter Notebook
  • Create list objects
  • Iterate over lists using for loops
  • Create and use a simple dictionary
  • Create and use a simple try/except block
  • Create a class by inheriting from another

features

Self-paced
You choose the schedule and decide how much time to invest as you build your project.
Project roadmap
Each project is divided into several achievable steps.
Get Help
While within the liveProject platform, get help from other participants and our expert mentors.
Compare with others
For each step, compare your deliverable to the solutions by the author and other participants.
book resources
Get full access to select books for 90 days. Permanent access to excerpts from Manning products are also included, as well as references to other resources.