Programming Fundamentals | Python

This is a simple step-by-step Python learning hub for complete beginners. You start from zero and slowly become good at coding. We have 7 levels. Each level teaches one important topic with easy practice questions. Practice is the only way to learn coding well – do every question yourself. After the levels, try the 20 fun console projects to use everything you learned.

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Table of Contents

• Level 1: Python Basics - Variables & Input/Output
• Level 2: Working with Text - Strings
• Level 3: Making Decisions - Conditionals
• Level 4: Repeating Tasks - Loops
• Level 5: Organizing Data - Lists & Tuples
• Level 6: Advanced Collections - Sets & Dictionaries
• Level 7: Reusable Code - Functions
• 20 Console Projects

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Level 1: Python Basics - Variables & Input/Output

Why this level?
Learn how to store data in variables, take input from user, and print results. This is the first step of every Python program.

1. Swap Two Numbers
   Define two numbers in variable. Swap them without extra variable. Print both after swap.

   Example: Input `First = 10` and `Second = 20` → Output: `First = 20`, `Second = 10`

2. Swap Two Strings
   Take two strings from user. Swap them without extra variable. Print both after swap.

   Example: Input `First = "Ali"` and `Second = "Alia"` → Output: `First = "Alia"`, `Second = "Ali"`

3. Add Two Numbers
   Ask user for two numbers. Add them and print the sum.

   Example: Input `5` and `8` → Output: `Sum = 13`

4. Area of Rectangle
   Ask user for length and width. Calculate area and print it.

   Example: Input `4` and `6` → Output: `Area = 24`

5. Say Hello to User
   Ask user for name. Print Hello [Name]!

   Example: Input `Ali` → Output: `Hello Ali!`

6. Full Name Greeting
   Ask for first name and last name. Join them and print greeting.

   Example: Input `Alia` and `Mirza` → Output: `Hello, Alia Mirza!`

7. Welcome with Age
   Ask for name and age. Print welcome message using f-string.

   Example: Input `Ali` and `20` → Output: `Welcome, Ali! You are 20 years old.`

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Level 2: Working with Text - Strings

Why this level?
Learn how to work with words and sentences. Almost every program needs text.

1. String Length Counter
   Ask user for a sentence. Print how many characters it has.

   Example: Input `Hello Pakistan` → Output: `Length: 14`

2. Upper and Lower Case
   Ask for a string. Print it in uppercase and lowercase.

   Example: Input `Python` → Output: `UPPER: PYTHON`, `lower: python`

3. Name Formatting
   Ask first and last name. Print normal, uppercase, and title case.

   Example: Input `lilly`, `collins` → Output: `Normal: lilly collins`, `Title Case: Lilly Collins`

4. Formatted Bill
   Ask item name, quantity, price. Print neat bill with total.

   Example: Input `Apple`, `5`, `50` → Output:  
   `Item: Apple`  
   `Quantity: 5`  
   `Total: Rs.250`

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Level 3: Making Decisions - Conditionals

Why this level?
Learn how to make your program choose different actions using if/elif/else.

1. Even or Odd
   Ask a number. Print Even or Odd.

   Example: Input `7` → Output: `Odd`

2. Compare Two Numbers
   Ask two numbers. Print which is bigger or if equal.

   Example: Input `10` `5` → Output: `10 is greater`

3. Pass or Fail
   Ask marks. Print Pass (≥40) or Fail.

   Example: Input `35` → Output: `Fail`

4. Count Vowels
   Ask for a word. Count vowels (a,e,i,o,u – ignore case).

   Example: Input `education` → Output: `Number of vowels: 5`

5. Positive, Negative, Zero
   Ask a number. Print what it is.

   Example: Input `-4` → Output: `Negative`

6. Grade System
   Ask percentage. Print A (≥80), B (60-79), C (40-59), Fail.

   Example: Input `85` → Output: `A Grade`

7. Simple Calculator
   Ask two numbers and operation (+ - * /). Print result. Show error for divide by zero.

   Example: Input `10`, `5`, `/` → Output: `Result: 2.0`

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Level 4: Repeating Tasks - Loops

Why this level?
Learn how to repeat work easily using while and for loops.

1. Print 1 to 10
   Use for loop to print numbers 1 to 10.

2. Multiplication Table
   Ask a number. Print its table (1 to 10).

   Example: Input `5` → `5 x 1 = 5` ... `5 x 10 = 50`

3. Sum of Numbers
   Ask a number n. Print sum from 1 to n.

   Example: Input `10` → Output: `Sum = 55`

4. Even Numbers 1-20
   Print all even numbers from 1 to 20 using loop.

5. Countdown
   Print numbers from 10 down to 1 using while loop.

6. Simple Star Pattern
   Print this pattern using loops:

   *                 1
   * *               1 2
   * * *             1 2 3
   * * * *           1 2 3 4
   * * * * *         1 2 3 4 5

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Level 5: Organizing Data - Lists & Tuples

Why this level?
Learn how to store many items in lists (can change) and tuples (cannot change).

1. Create Fruit List
   Ask user for 5 fruits. Store in list and print.

2. Access List Items
   Make list [10,20,30,40,50]. Print first, middle, last.

3. Add and Insert Items
   Start empty list. Append 3 items. Insert one at position 1. Print final list.

4. List Slicing
   Make list 1 to 10. Print first 5, last 3, and items 3 to 8.

5. Introduction to Tuples
   Make tuple of 5 days. Print it and try to change one item (will give error).

6. Convert List to Tuple
   Ask 4 subjects → store in list → convert to tuple → print both.

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Level 6: Advanced Collections - Sets & Dictionaries

Why this level?
Learn sets (unique items) and dictionaries (key-value pairs).

1. Create and Add to Set
   Make empty set. Add 5 numbers. Print set (duplicates removed).

2. Set Operations
   Make two sets. Print union and intersection.

3. Remove from Set
   Make set with 6 items. Remove one and discard one (if not exist). Print after each.

4. Student Marks Dictionary
   Make dict with 3 student names and marks. Print all.

5. Add and Update Dict
   Start empty dict. Add 3 key-value pairs. Update one value.

6. Word Frequency
   Ask a sentence. Make dict to count how many times each word appears.

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Level 7: Reusable Code - Functions

Why this level?
Learn how to make functions so you can use same code again easily.

1. Add Two Numbers Function
   Make function add(a, b) that returns sum. Call it and print.

2. Check Even/Odd Function
   Make function is_even(num) that returns True or False. Use it.

3. Maximum of Three
   Make function max_of_three(a,b,c) that returns biggest number.

4. Factorial Function
   Make function factorial(n) using loop. Return n!.

5. Greeting Function
   Make function greet(name, age) that prints welcome message.

6. Area Calculator Function
   Make function area(shape, values) that calculates rectangle or triangle area.

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20 Console Projects

1. Scientific Calculator
   Make a menu-based calculator with many math operations.
   Use import math for advanced functions.
   Create separate functions for each operation in a file called operations.py.
   Main file main.py shows menu and calls functions.

   Features:

   • Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
   • Square, Cube, Custom Power (like x^y)
   • Square Root, Cube Root
   • Sin, Cos, Tan (and inverse: asin, acos, atan)
   • Log (base 10), Natural Log (ln), Antilog
   • Handle errors (like divide by zero)

   Small Challenge: Add memory – user can store last result and use it again (M+ button style).

2. Number Guessing Game
   Computer picks a random number. User guesses with hints.
   Use import random and import time.

   Features:

   • User chooses how many rounds to play
   • Each round the range increases (Round 1: 1-50, Round 2: 1-100, etc.)
   • Time limit: starts 30 seconds, every next round subtract 5 seconds
   • Show "Too high" or "Too low" hints
   • Count total score

   Small Challenge: Save high score with player name (use a text file if you want extra practice).

3. Quiz Game
   Ask multiple-choice questions. Count score at the end.

   Features:

   • At least 10 questions stored in a list of dictionaries
   • Questions come in random order every time
   • 4 options for each question
   • Timer: 15 seconds per question
   • Show final score and correct answers

   Small Challenge: Add different categories (like General Knowledge, Python, Pakistan History) – user chooses category first.

4. To-Do List
   Simple task manager.

   Features:

   • Add task
   • View all tasks with numbers
   • Mark task as completed
   • Delete task
   • Save tasks when program ends (use a text file – optional but good practice)

   Small Challenge: Add due date for each task and show warning if today’s date is past due.

5. Password Generator
   Create strong random passwords.

   Features:

   • Ask length and what to include (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols)
   • Generate password
   • Option to generate many at once
   • Check password strength (simple count of character types)

   Small Challenge: Add option to exclude similar characters (like l and 1, O and 0).

6. BMI Calculator
   Calculate Body Mass Index and give health advice.

   Features:

   • Ask weight (kg) and height (cm or meters)
   • Calculate BMI = weight / (height in m)²
   • Show category: Underweight, Normal, Overweight, Obese
   • Explain what BMI means in simple words

   Small Challenge: Add ideal weight suggestion based on height.

7. Hangman Game
   Classic word guessing game.

   Features:

   • Random word from a list
   • Show dashes for letters
   • 6 wrong guesses allowed (draw simple hangman with print)
   • Accept only single letters

   Small Challenge: Add categories (fruits, animals, countries) – user chooses first.

8. Tic-Tac-Toe (Player vs Computer)
   Play against computer.

   Features:

   • 3x3 board shown with numbers
   • Player is X, computer is O
   • Computer makes random valid move
   • Check for win or draw after each turn

   Small Challenge: Make computer smarter – block player if they are about to win.

9. Contact Book
   Store and manage contacts.

   Features:

   • Add contact (name, phone, email)
   • Search by name
   • View all contacts
   • Delete contact
   • Save to file (optional)

   Small Challenge: Add edit contact option.

10. Simple Banking System
    Basic bank account simulator.

    Features:

    • Create account with name and starting balance
    • Deposit money
    • Withdraw (check if enough balance)
    • View balance and transaction history
    • Simple PIN protection (ask PIN at start)

    Small Challenge: Add interest calculation every "month" (when user presses option).

11. Simple Encryption Tool
    Encrypt and decrypt messages using Caesar cipher.
    Create two files: crypto.py (functions) and main.py (menu).

    Features:

    • Menu: Encrypt, Decrypt, Exit
    • Ask message and salt (shift number 1-25)

    You must create these two functions in crypto.py:

    def encrypt(message: str, salt: int) -> str:
        # Shift each letter forward by salt (a → d if salt=3)
        # Keep case, ignore non-letters
        
    def decrypt(message: str, salt: int) -> str:
        # Shift backward

    Small Challenge: Add option to try all 25 shifts to break unknown cipher (brute force).

12. Countdown Timer
    Timer that counts down and beeps at end.

    Features:

    • Ask minutes and seconds
    • Show time left updating every second
    • Print "Time's up!" at end
    • Use time.sleep(1)

    Small Challenge: Add pause and resume with key press.

13. Simple Chatbot
    Bot that replies to user messages.

    Features:

    • Greet user
    • Reply to common questions (how are you, what is your name, time, date, etc.)
    • Funny replies for unknown messages
    • Exit command

    Small Challenge: Remember user name after first ask and use it in replies.

14. Student Grade System
    Manage student records and marks.

    Features:

    • Add student (name, roll no, marks in 5 subjects)
    • View all students with percentage and grade
    • Search student by roll no
    • Show class average and highest scorer

    Small Challenge: Save data to file so it remains after program closes.

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