Software Engineering with Python

Explore what software engineering involves, how development teams work, and the career paths available in the field. Set up Python 3 and a development environment, then learn the basics of working with project files and version control.

• What Software Engineering Is

  Explain how software engineering combines planning, building, testing, and maintaining software.

• How Development Teams Build Software

  Describe how team members use a step-by-step development process to deliver software.

• Explore Software Engineering Career Paths

  Match common software engineering roles to the work each role performs.

• Install Python 3

  Install Python 3 and verify the installation by checking its version.

• Set Up VS Code and Run a Python File

  Configure VS Code for Python and run a simple Python file.

• Work with Project Folders and Files

  Create and navigate a project folder using the file manager or terminal.

• Organize a Python Project

  Arrange a small Python project with a source file and a README file.

• Install Git and Track Changes

  Install Git, set a user name and email, and save a project change in a commit.

• Project: Build a Version-Controlled Python Starter

  Create a starter Python project with an organized folder, README, and Git commit history.

• Capstone: Prepare a Shareable Python Project

  Publish the starter project to GitHub with a clear README and a clean commit history.

Build a foundation in Python syntax, variables, data types, control flow, functions, collections, and error handling. Use these concepts to break problems into manageable steps and write small, readable programs.

• Install Python and Set Up VS Code

  Install Python and VS Code, then run a starter script from the terminal.

• Write and Run Your First Python Script

  Create and run a Python script that displays text using print().

• Store Values in Variables

  Write a script that stores and displays text, whole numbers, and decimal numbers in variables.

• Calculate and Compare Values

  Use arithmetic and comparison operators to calculate results and compare values.

• Collect Input and Convert Types

  Write a script that accepts user input, converts it to a number, and displays a calculated result.

• Make Decisions with If Statements

  Write a program that uses if, elif, and else to choose an outcome based on user input.

• Repeat Actions with Loops

  Use for and while loops to repeat a task until a stopping condition is met.

• Organize Code with Functions

  Define and call functions that accept inputs and return results.

• Group Data in Lists and Dictionaries

  Use a list and a dictionary to store, access, and update related data.

• Handle Errors and Break Problems into Steps

  Break a small problem into steps and handle invalid input with try and except.

• Capstone Project: Build a Command-Line Task Tracker

  Build a command-line task tracker that uses functions, collections, control flow, and input error handling.

Organize programs with modules and reusable components, and compare object-oriented and functional programming patterns. Apply these ideas in a simple graphical application using Tkinter.

• Set Up Python and Tkinter

  Set up Python and a code editor, then run a script that confirms Tkinter is available.

• Create Reusable Functions

  Write a function that accepts input and returns a useful result.

• Organize Code into Modules

  Split related functions into a Python module and import them into another script.

• Represent Program State with Functions

  Use functions and values to update and display simple application data.

• Create Classes and Objects

  Define a class with attributes and methods, then use it to create an object.

• Compare Functional and Object-Oriented Designs

  Model the same small feature with functions and with a class, then identify one practical difference.

• Build a Tkinter Window with Widgets

  Create a Tkinter window containing a label, an input field, and a button.

• Arrange Widgets with a Layout Manager

  Arrange Tkinter widgets into a clear interface using a layout manager.

• Connect Interface Events to Program Logic

  Make a Tkinter button respond to a click by calling reusable program logic and updating the window.

• Project: Build a Simple Tkinter Task Tracker

  Build a task tracker with a Tkinter interface and reusable code organized into modules.

Learn to check program behavior with automated tests using pytest, and improve code quality through debugging, clear naming, and small refactoring steps. Practice professional workflows for collaborating on and maintaining Python projects.

• Set Up Python, VS Code, and Git

  Install Python, VS Code, and Git and verify that each tool opens successfully.

• Create a Project and Install pytest

  Create a Python virtual environment and install pytest inside it.

• Write and Run Your First pytest Test

  Write a test with an assertion and run it with pytest.

• Test Function Inputs and Edge Cases

  Write tests that check a function’s expected results for typical and boundary inputs.

• Organize Tests and Run Them Selectively

  Arrange tests in a test file and use pytest to run one test or the full suite.

• Understand and Debug a Failing Test

  Use pytest’s failure output to locate and fix an error in a Python function.

• Refactor Code Safely with Clear Names

  Improve unclear names and simplify a function while keeping its tests passing.

• Save Project Changes with Git Commits

  Record a tested code change in Git with a clear commit message.

• Share a Change with a Branch and Pull Request

  Create a Git branch and open a pull request for a small code change.

• Capstone Project: Build a Tested Task Tracker

  Build and submit a small task-tracking program with pytest tests, clear code, and a pull request.

Persist and query data with SQLite, connect to APIs and external services, and handle responses and common failures. Collect web data responsibly with Python, respecting site policies and avoiding unnecessary requests.

• Set Up Python Tools for Databases and Web Data

  Install Requests and Beautiful Soup, and verify access to Python's SQLite tools.

• Create a SQLite Database and Table

  Create a SQLite database containing a table with clearly named columns.

• Add Records and Read Them Back

  Insert sample records into a SQLite table and retrieve them with a query.

• Find and Sort Records with SQL

  Write queries that filter records by a condition and sort the results.

• Change and Remove Database Records Safely

  Update and delete selected records using parameterized SQL statements.

• Request Data from an API

  Send a GET request to a public API and read selected values from its JSON response.

• Handle API Errors and Unavailable Services

  Add status-code checks, timeouts, and exception handling to an API request.

• Check Site Policies and Plan Polite Scraping

  Evaluate a site's scraping rules and set a low request rate before collecting data.

• Extract Information from Web Pages

  Use Beautiful Soup to extract selected text from a permitted web page.

• Project: Build a Responsible Data Collector

  Build a Python program that collects permitted data from an API or web page, handles common failures, and stores selected results in SQLite.

Bring together Python fundamentals, program design, testing, and data integration to create a practical application. Plan the work, implement and test the solution, and refine it using professional software engineering practices.

• Install Python and Set Up VS Code

  Create a working Python environment in VS Code with a project-specific virtual environment.

• Plan a Simple Expense Tracker

  Write three user stories that define what the expense tracker must do.

• Represent Expenses and Organize Code

  Define an expense record and write a function that creates one from user-provided values.

• Build a Command-Line Menu

  Create a menu that lets users add an expense or view recorded expenses.

• Validate Expense Information

  Reject missing descriptions and invalid expense amounts before saving a record.

• Save and Load Expenses with CSV

  Store expense records in a CSV file and load them when the program starts.

• Handle File Errors Clearly

  Display a helpful message when the expense file is unavailable or cannot be read.

• Test Expense Functions with pytest

  Write pytest tests that verify expense creation and input validation.

• Improve the Project with Git

  Commit a tested improvement to the expense tracker using Git.

• Capstone Project: Build and Improve an Expense Tracker

  Deliver a tested command-line expense tracker that validates input, stores records in CSV, and handles file errors.