What I've Learned in Four Weeks: From Python Basics to SQLAlchemy **Introduction** Over the past four weeks, I've embarked on an exciting journey to master Python programming. Starting from the basics, I gradually delved into more advanced topics, culminating in the use of SQLAlchemy for database interactions. In this blog post, I will share my learning journey, highlighting key concepts and showcasing some code samples to illustrate what I've learned. **Week 1: Getting Started with Python** My journey began with the fundamentals of Python. During this week, I focused on understanding the syntax and basic constructs of the language. Key Concepts Variables and Data Types: I learned about different data types such as integers, floats, strings, and booleans. Control Structures: I explored if-else statements, for and while loops, and how to use them to control the flow of my programs. Functions: I understood the importance of functions for code reusability and modularity. Code Sample: Basic Python `def greet(name): return f"Hello, {name}!" print(greet("World"))` **Week 2: Data Structures and Libraries** In the second week, I focused on Python's built-in data structures and some essential libraries. Key Concepts Lists, Tuples, and Dictionaries: I learned how to store and manipulate collections of data. List Comprehensions: I discovered a concise way to create lists. Libraries: I got introduced to libraries like math and datetime. Code Sample: List Comprehensions `squares = [x**2 for x in range(10)] print(squares)` **Week 3: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)** The third week was dedicated to understanding the principles of object-oriented programming in Python. Key Concepts Classes and Objects: I learned how to define classes and create objects. Inheritance: I explored how to inherit attributes and methods from other classes. Polymorphism and Encapsulation: I understood how to design flexible and reusable code. Code Sample: OOP in Python `class Animal: def __init__(self, name): self.name = name def speak(self): raise NotImplementedError("Subclasses must implement this method") class Dog(Animal): def speak(self): return f"{self.name} says Woof!" dog = Dog("Buddy") print(dog.speak())` **Week 4: Working with Databases using SQLAlchemy** In the final week, I delved into SQLAlchemy, a powerful ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library for Python, which allowed me to interact with databases seamlessly. Key Concepts Engine and Sessions: I learned how to set up the engine and create sessions to interact with the database. Models and Schemas: I explored how to define models and map them to database tables. CRUD Operations: I practised performing Create, Read, Update, and Delete operations using SQLAlchemy. Code Sample: SQLAlchemy Basics `from sqlalchemy import create_engine, Column, Integer, String from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker` # Create an engine engine = create_engine('sqlite:///example.db', echo=True) # Define a base class for declarative class definitions `Base = declarative_base()` # Define a model `class User(Base): __tablename__ = 'users' id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True) name = Column(String) age = Column(Integer)` # Create the table Base.metadata.create_all(engine) # Create a new session `Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine) session = Session()` # Add a new user `new_user = User(name='Alice', age=30) session.add(new_user) session.commit()` # Query the database `users = session.query(User).all() for user in users: print(user.name, user.age)` **Conclusion** The past four weeks have been incredibly rewarding. Starting from the basics of Python, progressing through data structures and OOP, and finally mastering SQLAlchemy has equipped me with a solid foundation for future projects. Each step has been a building block, and I am excited to continue expanding my knowledge and applying these skills to real-world applications. If you're just starting with Python, I encourage you to take it one step at a time and enjoy the learning process. Happy coding!

wathikaeng

Python phase 3 moringa revamp

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