Red Thread Project — Building a complete Python application — from idea to deployment
- Goal: carry out an end-to-end Python project applying every level of the guide — from basics to production.
- Materials: the Python cheat sheet below (essential syntax and commands) to keep at hand.
- Method: one step per level. Choose ONE project that motivates you (task manager, expense tracker, mini-API, CSV analysis) and grow it.
⬇️ Download the Python cheat sheet (TXT)
Step 0 · Level 0 — Set up the workshop (L0)
Install Python and VS Code, check "python --version", and test a first script + the REPL. Choose your project idea and its concrete goal.
Step 1 · Level 1 — Code the core logic (L1)
Write the program's core with variables, conditions, loops and functions. Break the problem into small reusable functions (DRY).
Step 2 · Level 2 — Structure the data (L2)
Model your data with the right structures (lists, dictionaries), create one or two classes (OOP), save/load to a file (JSON) and make it reliable with try/except.
Step 3 · Level 3 — Make the code professional (L3)
Split into modules, create a venv + requirements.txt, add type hints and write your first pytest tests. Use a Pythonic tool (comprehension, decorator) where relevant.
Step 4 · Level 4 — Choose a specialization (L4)
Give your project a dimension: expose it as an API (FastAPI), add a data analysis (pandas + chart), OR automate a task / some scraping. ONE building block is enough.
Step 5 · Level 5 — Productionize and deploy (L5)
Clean the code (PEP 8, black, flake8), containerize with a Dockerfile, version on GitHub with a CI pipeline (pytest via GitHub Actions), then deploy online (Render/Railway).
Success criteria
- Code organized into functions/modules, readable and PEP 8 compliant (black + flake8).
- Data correctly structured, persisted (file/JSON) and errors handled (try/except).
- Reproducible environment (venv + requirements.txt) and passing pytest tests.
- One specialization added (API, data or automation) and, ideally, the application deployed online via a CI/CD pipeline.