Getting Started with Python: Classes, Objects, File Types & More

I am studying Python with @skillcrush, in this article we cover classes, objects, file types, and more as we wrap this intro course

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🐍 Greetings travelers! We are studying Python with Skillcrush. In this article we cover classes, objects, file types, and more as we wrap this intro course.

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I’ve wrapped up my Front End Developer portfolio at Skillcrush, read here:

My Front End Developer Portfolio & all the struggles on the way!

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Classes & Objects

→ CLASS

A blueprint for creating a new Python object

→ OBJECT

A data structure, like a variable or a list

To Write A Class:

1. Define the class

2. Set up the class

3. Create properties for the class

4. Add functions and variables

5. Run the class

Define the class:

class Person:

Classes are always capitalized in Python.

Set up the class:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):

→ CONSTRUCTOR FUNCTION

Defines how you set up your class

Constructor Function is the word __init__.

self is shorthand for the Person class. name & age are the arguments.

Create properties for the class:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):
    self.name = name
    self.age = age

= name and = age are properties.

self.name is saying in the Person class, assign the name property to the name argument.

self.name uses the dot notation, which is how properties are assigned to a class.

Add functions and variables:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):
    self.name = name
    self.age = age

  def greeting(self):
    print("Hi my name is " + self.name)

person1 = Person("Hannah", 25)

Defining a greeting function and passing self through the argument.

person1, now being outside of the class, can only pull from Person and then speak to the arguments. So name and age.

Run the class:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):
    self.name = name
    self.age = age

  def greeting(self):
    print("Hi my name is " + self.name)

person1 = Person("Hannah", 25)

print(person1.name)
print(person1.age)
print(person1.greeting())

Pet Shop Challenge

I felt good about this challenge. Referring to my notes above definitely helped. I added in some extra steps in there by adding titles for each data point and turning the numbers into strings.

Check it out: Replit

Start Personal Assistant Challenge

The goal of this starter course is to build a personal assistant app, so in this challenge we’ll begin building it.

Definitely don’t feel like I know what I’m doing with this challenge, but I wrote up what I could think to write.

Check it out: Replit

Personal Assistant App Challenge

In this challenge we put together a lot of challenges. I did the best I could and got all my print()’s to function… now to look at the solution code, so we what I may have missed.

Overall it looked good to me. I needed to make some updates to the birthday app, but overall it worked! Made some fun updates.

Check it out: Replit

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Python File Types

→ FILE

An object for storing data or commands for an app.

→ FILE PROCESSING

A system used to create, save, and retrieve the data in your files.

→ TEXT FILES

Can contain letters, numbers, and symbols, end in a .txt file extension, & are useful for storing large amounts of text.

→ JSON FILES

A popular type of text file for data exchange, such as taking information from one coding language to another.

File processing is the system used to create, save, and retrieve data in files.

File Modes:

• "r" – Read mode, which allows you to access a file and view the contents without making changes.

• "w" – Write mode, which allows you to add data to a file or create a brand new file.

• "a" – Append mode, which allows you to add data to the end of a file.

\n - a line break

Television Shows Challenge

Definitely felt like I struggled through this. Because I still find loops to be confusing, when they requested a loop be tossed in here I couldn’t figure it out.

Check it out: Replit

Personal Assistant Data Files Challenge

Attempting to bring it all together. I typed up the best I could from what I’ve learned, but I’m receiving errors and don’t feel sure.

I was actually pretty close. So I’m glad I am continuing to type code, even when I’m unsure. I had a few syntax issues but was able to clean those up.

Check it out: Replit

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CSV Module

→ CSV MODULE

Used to create and edit CSV files.

→ TABULAR DATA

Data organized in a table format define by rows and columns.

→ CSV

Comma Separated Value - A file format for storing tabular data in a spreadsheet format, like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

snacks,amount,calories

cheese pizza,1 slice, 70

ice cream,1 cup,130

chips,1 cup,150

→ HEADER

A row used to label and identify the data in each column

To read the CSV file in Python:

import csv

with open("snacks.csv", "r") as treats:
  reader = csv.DictReader(treats, delimiter=",")
  for row in reader:
    print(row["snacks"], row["amount"], row["calories"])

DictReader() - converts the CSV file to a dictionary that can be read by Python.

F-strings - short for formatted strings, easily concatenate a string with a value inside of a print function.

name = "Ann" profession = "developer"
print(f'Hi! My name is {name} and I am a {profession}. Pleased to meet you!')

Language Translator Challenge

I’m honestly shocked that I got this one basically correct on the first go!

The only issue was previously I had the translations = {} under the CSV reader. Once I moved it above, it worked perfectly.

Check it out: Replit

Finish Language Translator App Challenge

I feel pretty good about this one. I definitely tried a few different things, but ultimately got it to work without looking at the solution code.

Check it out: Replit

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Finish Class Project

Personal Assistant Birthdays Challenge

Definitely struggled through this one. I got turned around on the directions and ultimately had to look at the solution code to see what they meant in terms of what to build and where.

Check it out: Replit

Complete Personal Assistant Challenge

This part was to add a contact list. So basically mimicking the work I did with birthdays. I believe I was able to get most of it, but when I went to get specific contact info I received an error. So time to see what I missed.

I was missing an “s” from contact in one place and then I had some confusion about what to call the job title field. On the main.py they called it title and on the PersonalAssistant.py they called it position. It worked when I updated it accordingly.

Check it out: Replit

You can also see the app on GitHub:

Go here: https://github.com/TwixmixyJanet/Python-Personal-Assistant/tree/main

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I’ve loved beginning to learn Python! This wraps up the intro to Python course. I have two more courses in Python that I can take with Skillcrush. I also begin my courses at UCB in just over a week. Stay tuned!

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What did you think? Leave me a comment and share!

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