Six Cool Things to Do With Python: Build Your Coding Skills

Nowadays, developers can use many popular programming languages to build a wide range of applications. 

The language proving very popular among developers these days is Python. This is mainly because it is easy to use and provides developers with a fun way to start programming.

The other reason this programming language is popular is that it comes with great libraries. This is important when trying to develop any new kind of application.

If you are only just starting with Python, you may wonder what it can do. 

Let’s take a look at some of the incredible things you can develop with Python!

Cool Things to Do With Python As a Beginner

As with anything you are learning, you will find that practicing programming skills makes perfect. 

When you first start learning Python, here are a few ideas for projects you can implement with it.

These simple challenges and games aim to help you better understand the basics of Python and boost your confidence as you learn.

1. Create Simple Cool Games Using Python Libraries

The Python programming language allows you to create arcade games, puzzles, and adventure games.

You can use many Python libraries to help you with game development, but one of the most popular is PyGame. PyGame comes with a variety of modules and different functionalities.

The great thing about PyGame is that it is available to use for free. It is also very portable and can run on various operating systems such as macOS and Windows. 

It is, in fact, one of the most powerful Python libraries. You will find that it contains nearly everything that is needed to help you start building your games. 

The kind of simple games that you’ll be able to create when using this Python library include:

Rock, Paper, Scissors 

If you are looking for a simple project as a beginner to test your Python skills, this is the one for you.

In the beginning, you can create a version of the game where it is player versus computer. Through this game, you will gain a clearer understanding of Python statements and while loops.

Guess the Number

If you are looking for fun group puzzle games to create using Python, this game is perfect for you. It helps you learn how to generate random numbers. 

The skills you will use when creating this program will help you get familiar with functions in the random module, variables, the print function, integers, if/else statements, and while loops.

Hangman

This program is similar in some ways to Guess the Number, although it uses words instead of numbers. 

This is a game where the player must guess what letters are in a particular word the program has randomly chosen. 

With this particular game project for beginners, you will learn how to create a counter as part of your code to allow players to see how many wrong guesses they have made. 

The skills mastered when creating this game include boolean variables, the random module, strings, and input/output. 

Text-Based Adventure Game

With this Python project, you are creating a simple text-based adventure game. It is one where the player will walk around various rooms and be provided a description of them, similar to those you find in conventional board games. 

As part of the programming, you will be the one that determines how far the player’s character can walk and in which direction. It will also show you how to track their location. 

The skills you will use when creating this program include strings, using variables, if/else statements, the print function, lists, and input/output.

2. Simple Beginner Web Development Projects Using Python 

If you would rather get involved in web development projects, below are some great ones to try out. 

There are several Python web development frameworks that you can use to create your web pages, including Flask, Pyramid, and Django. 

If you look closely, you will notice that sites such as Reddit, Pinterest, and Spotify have been initially created using these frameworks. 

All these frameworks come with extensive libraries and modules that will teach you how to develop a website or web application by reusing existing components.

With these frameworks, you have easy access to functions for creating web pages with content management, database access, and database authorization.

3. Great for Task Automation 

Python is particularly good to write programs that automate repetitive tasks. This process is also referred to as scripting.

With Python, you can do scripting to automate tasks related to filesystem management. For example, you can write a script to create, rename, split, merge, convert, or delete files.

You can also automate the search of certain patterns in text documents or programmatically update file content.

If you want you can also use Python automation to search for and download information you find online. It allows you to complete and then submit forms online. Plus, it can also be used to send out notifications and emails.

All these tasks would be monotonous and repetitive if you had to do them yourself. Using Python scripts you can save time and also reduce the chance of making errors while performing these tasks.

And these are just some examples of the tasks you can automate using a Python script. The great thing is that creating Python scripts is relatively easy and requires just a few lines of code.

4. Ideal for Data Analytics Research

As we create more and more data, there is a need to collect, manipulate and organize this information.

Not only is Python language easy to learn, but it is flexible and well-supported. It is quick and easy for you to use to analyze collected data. 

When working with large amounts of data, it is helpful to be able to manipulate it. Python allows you to manipulate data and perform database management and tedious tasks that are repetitive. 

You will need to use Python and frameworks such as ExpertTrack to get the most out of it. These together will help you develop the all-important practical data analytic skills needed. 

5. Ideal For Developing NLP Skills

As emerging technologies like NLP (Natural Language Processing) become ever more relevant (e.g. with enhancements in search engines), Python can prove to be a powerful query tool. It will allow you to develop your NLP skills. 

NLP is a technology that helps to turn natural human language into a form that computer programs will understand. 

When working on any coding project there is a lot of unstructured data that needs to be analyzed and contains text that only humans can read. But with NLP you are able to alter this data in order for computer programs to then understand it. 

Even those with basic Python skills can learn how to use NLP and by the end of any training will be able to carry out the following:

• Preprocess any text for analysis
• Analyze the text found 
• Create visualizations based on the analysis of the text found

You can start getting familiar with NLP in Python by implementing a program for sentiment analysis using the NLTK Python library.

6.  Ideal for AI and ML Projects

Since it is a flexible, stable, simple programming language, Python is perfect for various AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) projects. 

You will find that of the various programming languages used by data scientists, Python is proving to be a favorite. 

As you will soon discover, numerous AI and ML packages and libraries for machine learning are at your disposal. 

All this will help you learn more about how to use this programming language in conjunction with machine-learning projects and help boost your career in this field as you improve your programming skills. 

Now that you’ve learned six cool things to do with Python, let’s take a closer look at this programming language.

A Closer Look At Python

We will teach you about the basics of Python so that you can gain a better understanding of why learning to use Python can prove to be such a great programming experience. 

What Is Python?

Python is an easy-to-understand, object-oriented programming language. It appeared in 1991 and is one of the few programming languages that is relatively intuitive to learn and understand.

This is why it has proven popular with those looking for coding languages who want to develop something quickly. 

Many prominent businesses and organizations such as Netflix, Google, Spotify, and NASA use Python, along with other languages, to power their services. 

Why Is the Python Programming Language So Popular?

There are many different programming languages now available for you to learn. Even though Python is the second most popular tool after Javascript, there are many reasons why so many people still wish to learn how to use it. 

The main reasons why it is popular are as follows:

It’s Easy to Use 

Learning Python can prove invaluable for anyone just starting to learn about coding. As you will find, it is relatively easy to learn, making it ideal for anyone who wishes to build up their programming knowledge.

It Uses Simple Syntax

Python is relatively easy to read and understand since the syntax is similar in many ways to English. 

The straightforward layout allows you to build a solid foundation to work out what each line of code does using the Python shell.

It Has a Thriving Community 

As this is an open-source language, anyone can use its range of options for creating code. There is a great community that will support you and help you to develop your skills further.

This is because it allows members of the community to add to the libraries. A quick search online and you will find there are several different Python communities you may wish to join.

It’s Versatile 

Whether you are interested in getting involved in AI (artificial intelligence), web development, data analytics, or visualization, the Python programming language is great for basic and also more advanced project ideas.

Powerful And Quick

Unlike a lot of other coding languages such as C#, Python is quite user-friendly and arguably a higher-level language (closer to the English language). This makes it extremely easy to get used to and execute codes while still having concise syntax.

Works Well With Other Programming Languages

Python has a relatively simpler and more flexible interface. This is exactly what makes it easy to integrate with other programming languages. 

Essentially, this means that developers can use Python to connect to databases or other systems written in different languages.

Runs Everywhere

Imagine spending hours writing code, only to see it works only on Windows and not macOS. Luckily, that’s not the case here. Python is a cross-platform language that can run on various operating systems, including Linux, and Unix-based systems. 

This means that developers can build and test their code on any platform they choose, without worrying about compatibility issues. 

Open Source 

Python is an open-source language, which means that it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This allows developers to leverage the work of the broader community, including access to many powerful and useful libraries and frameworks.

Why Should You Learn Python?

We’ve explained why Python is such a popular language at the moment, but you might still wonder why you should look into learning how to use it. 

Apart from being versatile and easy to use, there are several other reasons you should consider learning how to use this programming language. 

Python Developers Are in Demand 

There are many fields and industries where the demand for those who can code in Python is high.

If you want to begin or change your career, then learning this particular skill and having confidence in Python may prove helpful.

Enjoy a Well Paid Career

As an example, Data from the UK suggests that the median annual salary for a Python Data Engineer is around £66,000.

Plentiful Job Opportunities 

As Python can be used with many emerging technologies like data analytics, machine learning, and AI, this skill will likely prove helpful now and in the future.

Learning Python now may prove to be helpful to your computer programming career for many years to come. 

How Long Will It Take to Learn Python?

Learning Python is relatively straightforward in comparison to other programming languages like Java and C++.

If you are willing to dedicate time and effort, you can learn the basics of Python in just a few weeks while working on a beginner-level Python project. 

Many courses are available, some of which will teach you the basics with only a few hours of learning each week. Many of these courses take around 6 to 8 weeks to complete. 

It should be noted that more detailed courses are available if you want to go into this in more depth and you have 5-6 hours available to spend on it every day.

Which Platform Should You Choose For Your Python Project?

When developing your Python project you will have to think about how end-users will access and use your application, including those that lack any sort of technical expertise.

There are quite a handful of platforms to pick from in this case. Regardless of which one you pick, we suggest you go through its features and figure out how it will change the user experience.

Web 

The great thing about using Python is that it takes care of your back-end and front-end development needs. 

Desktop Graphical User Interface 

With Python, you have the ability to build a desktop graphical user interface. This is the perfect project for someone just starting or who has already had some training in Python. 

The best part of developing a desktop GUI is that you don’t need to learn about front-end technology.

The main reason is that it comes with several frameworks ideal for building all desktop applications. 

Plus, after developing your desktop GUI, you can make it compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux simply by compiling it into an executable that will allow it to run on any of these three primary OS (operating systems).

Command Line

These applications are created so that the user interaction is dependent on a terminal and shell. 

As these only function in a console window, they will not have any graphics or visual interface that those using them can see. 

Using such applications means the user has to enter specific commands. The app will then provide any output based on the command provided.

Recently, this type of project has proven to be one of the most popular when using Python. This does mean you will need to have a certain level of knowledge concerning working on the command line.

While that is true, you shouldn’t let that intimidate you since you’ll find several helpful command-line frameworks for Python. 

A Few Tips for Being a Cool Python Developer 

1. Before you begin, it is a great idea to go to the official Python website and read through documentation and tutorials.

2. The best way to improve your skills as a Python beginner is to first get used to the syntax. 

In case you’re an absolute beginner and have no coding experience whatsoever, I highly recommend going through the Codefather tutorial about starting coding in Python.

3. Share your progress with like-minded people in online communities, forums, and social media. This helps you stay accountable and on track to reach your goals. 

4. A great way to further develop your coding style is learning about the way other developers use Python. But, make sure you choose to look at the work of developers whose skill levels are similar to yours otherwise you might find their code very hard to understand. 

5. You’ll find that when it comes to Python, there’s always something new to learn. Make sure you keep up to date with the latest libraries. Also, investing in Python coding books will help you gain more confidence in your skills.

6. Along with reading books, it’s worthwhile to learn more to see how Python libraries such as Keras, TensorFlow, Matplotlib, Theano, and NumPy work.

7. Start learning about AI and machine learning, in conjunction with Python. But don’t just learn about the various algorithms in these areas; also create projects so you can practice the use of AI and machine learning libraries. 

8. If you really want to master Python, make sure you put aside time each day to allow you to practice everything you’ve learned. This should also include you setting time aside to write your own code so you understand every aspect of Python and its constructs.

You’ll also find that you retain the information you’re taught much better through practicing every day. 

9. It’s crucial that you keep all the information about what you’ve achieved when it comes to becoming a Python developer up to date on your resume. This also includes making sure you update your profile on sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, CareerBuilder, and LinkedIn. 

FAQ 

What Python project should I build to get a job? 

You must do much more than the basics to get an excellent job as a Python programmer.  

Once you’ve learned the basics, this is the time when you need to put your skills to use and begin building something useful. 

Start off as soon as possible by practicing Python projects that are fun and easy to follow. Doing this will help you gain a better understanding of how this programming language works. Then, as you start to learn more, you will be able to create your own projects. 

After a quick search online, you’ll find that there are numerous fun Python projects that beginners can get started on. All of them are easy and fun to do, and ideal for anyone who is new to programming. 

What are some good Python projects? 

When first learning Python, begin with a calculator, merge, or binary search algorithm projects.

It is worth working on all these projects since they all have something that you will find helpful in the future. 

How do I begin my first Python project? 

The best way to begin is by actually downloading an IDE like Visual Studio Code and start coding. There isn’t any other way to do it. 

The first Python project you undertake will help you get familiar with basic Python syntax.

Luckily, plenty of places online provide you with great courses that will help you learn how to use this programming language. 

You can earn certificates over time that will help you land the job you want. 

Python Projects for Those Just Learning How to Use the Language

If you’re just starting your coding journey, then there are a few Python projects which you could try and make.

The reason why they are so effective is that they’ll not only boost your confidence but will also help you get fluid with troubleshooting and problem-solving, especially when your code keeps throwing errors. 

One of the best projects to start with is possibly a simple calculator. You can try to create code that asks the user for any basic arithmetic operation and then asks the user to input a few values.

Then it computes the answer and outputs it. You can start with basic addition and subtraction and later keep on adding more functions.

Similarly, there are other things you can try as well such as the “Tick Tac Toe” game or the hangman game. In essence, you’d be comparing input data with saved data to see if it matches. 

And who knows? If these work out for you, they might just awaken the passionate coder inside you to take on more ambitious coding endeavors. 

Conclusion 

Using Python is very much in demand across a wide range of industries. So finding a job that you not only like but also pays well shouldn’t prove difficult. 

Related article: as suggested before, if you are just getting started with Python go through this Codefather beginner Python programming tutorial.