Mini Project: Build a Simple Python Application – Final Project and Next Steps

Mini Project: Build a Simple Python Application – Final Project and Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned the essential concepts in Python, it’s time to apply your skills to build a mini project! This project will help you consolidate everything you’ve learned so far and prepare you for more advanced topics.

Focus Keyphrase: Mini Project: Build a Simple Application

1. Introduction to the Mini Project

In this section, we’ll guide you through building a simple application using Python. This project will combine the key concepts you’ve learned, such as working with functions, handling user input, using libraries, and more. By the end of this project, you’ll have a working application and an understanding of how to approach future projects.

---

2. Planning Your Simple Application

Step 1: Define the Purpose

The first step in building any application is to define its purpose. For our mini project, let’s create a To-Do List application. This app will allow users to:

• Add tasks to a list.
• View all tasks.
• Remove completed tasks.

This simple application will use basic Python functions, loops, and user input to achieve these goals.

Step 2: Break Down the Features

Here are the features we’ll implement:

• Adding Tasks: Users will input a task, and it will be added to a list.
• Viewing Tasks: The user can see all tasks currently in the list.
• Removing Tasks: Once a task is completed, it can be removed from the list.

3. Writing the Code for the Mini Project

Step 1: Setting Up the Project

Create a new Python file, for example, todo_app.py.

# Simple To-Do List Application

def display_tasks(tasks):
    """Displays all tasks in the list."""
    if tasks:
        print("\nTo-Do List:")
        for idx, task in enumerate(tasks, start=1):
            print(f"{idx}. {task}")
    else:
        print("Your to-do list is empty!")

def add_task(tasks):
    """Adds a new task to the list."""
    task = input("Enter a task to add: ")
    tasks.append(task)
    print(f"Task '{task}' added!")

def remove_task(tasks):
    """Removes a task from the list."""
    try:
        task_num = int(input("Enter the task number to remove: "))
        removed_task = tasks.pop(task_num - 1)
        print(f"Task '{removed_task}' removed!")
    except (ValueError, IndexError):
        print("Invalid task number. Please try again.")

def main():
    tasks = []
    while True:
        print("\nMenu:")
        print("1. View tasks")
        print("2. Add task")
        print("3. Remove task")
        print("4. Exit")
        
        choice = input("Choose an option: ")
        
        if choice == '1':
            display_tasks(tasks)
        elif choice == '2':
            add_task(tasks)
        elif choice == '3':
            remove_task(tasks)
        elif choice == '4':
            print("Exiting the app...")
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid option, please try again.")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Step 2: Explanation of the Code

1. display_tasks: This function loops through the list of tasks and prints them out.
2. add_task: This function takes user input and appends the new task to the list.
3. remove_task: This function allows the user to remove a task based on the task number.
4. main: This is the entry point of the application. It provides a menu for the user to interact with the app.

Step 3: Running the Application

Once you have written the code, you can run your todo_app.py file from the terminal or command prompt. You should see the menu and be able to interact with the application. Try adding, viewing, and removing tasks.

4. Real-Life Application:

This To-Do List application can be a foundation for more complex applications. In a real-life scenario, you could:

• Add data persistence (e.g., saving tasks to a file or database).
• Create a graphical user interface (GUI) for a more user-friendly experience.
• Enhance the app with features like task priority, due dates, and reminders.

5. Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Mistake 1: Forgetting to Add Functions

❌ Incorrect Example:

tasks = []
while True:
    choice = input("Choose an option: ")
    if choice == '1':
        print(tasks)

Problem: The tasks will be printed without formatting, and there’s no way to add or remove tasks.

✅ Fix: Define a function to handle the displaying, adding, and removing tasks:

def display_tasks(tasks):
    if tasks:
        for idx, task in enumerate(tasks, start=1):
            print(f"{idx}. {task}")
    else:
        print("No tasks to show.")

Mistake 2: Not Handling User Input Properly

❌ Incorrect Example:

task_num = int(input("Enter task number to remove: "))
tasks.pop(task_num)

Problem: This approach doesn’t handle errors like invalid input (non-numeric input or out-of-range numbers).

✅ Fix: Use a try-except block to handle these cases:

try:
    task_num = int(input("Enter task number to remove: "))
    removed_task = tasks.pop(task_num - 1)
except (ValueError, IndexError):
    print("Invalid task number. Please try again.")

6. Next Steps:

Congratulations on completing your first mini project! Here are the next steps to keep learning and improving:

1. Explore More Python Libraries:

• Learn how to integrate libraries like NumPy for numerical tasks or Flask for web development.

2. Learn About Databases:

• Build applications that interact with databases like SQLite or MySQL to store user data.

3. Build More Complex Projects:

• Create more complex applications, such as a personal finance tracker, weather app, or inventory management system.

4. Contribute to Open Source:

• Once you feel confident, try contributing to open-source Python projects on platforms like GitHub.

7. Conclusion

Building this simple Python application has given you the chance to apply fundamental programming concepts such as functions, loops, and handling user input. This mini project is just the beginning—by building on this foundation, you can tackle larger and more complex projects as you continue your learning journey.