How to use show-me-the-code: a daily Python practice guide

What show-me-the-code is and who it suits

The README describes it as a Python practice book with one small program per day. Its problems cover tasks such as generating verification codes, counting words in text files, converting between Excel, XML and text formats, filtering sensitive words, and building simple web apps.

The README notes that if you replace Python with another language, most of the problems still apply. The problems and the README are in Chinese, so the material suits Chinese-speaking readers best.

• Good fit: Chinese-speaking beginners who want small, concrete Python tasks
• Good fit: learners who like a numbered problem list to work through
• Good fit: self-taught programmers looking for project ideas involving files, images and simple web apps
• Poor fit: readers who need English-language material
• Poor fit: learners who want structured lessons with explanations

Get the show-me-the-code repository

The project is read online and shared as a Git repository. To get a local copy, clone it with Git. You need Python 3 installed to run your own solutions, and the README lists it as the only prerequisite.

• Install Git if it is not already on your machine.
• Clone the repository using the command below.
• Open the cloned folder and read the README, which contains the full problem list.

Read the problem list and pick your first problem

The README lists problems in numbered order, from 第 0000 题 onward. Each entry describes a task and often links to reference reading. Several entries are chained: for example, problem 0002 asks you to save the 200 codes generated in problem 0001 to a MySQL database, and problem 0003 asks you to save them to Redis instead.

The README says the problems are meant to be worked through as a daily exercise. Starting from the beginning keeps the chained problems in sequence.

• Problem 0004: count the occurrences of words in an English plain text file.
• Problem 0005: resize a folder of photos so none is larger than iPhone 5 resolution.
• Problem 0011: read a list of sensitive words from filtered_words.txt and print a response when the user types one.
• Problem 0012: the same word list, but replace the sensitive word with asterisks.

Work through a problem step by step

Read the task carefully, then write your own Python 3 solution before looking at any reference material. The README links to outside references for many problems, such as a Stack Overflow question on generating random letters for problem 0010, so you can look up specific techniques when you get stuck.

The repository's README points to a separate project at Show-Me-the-Code/python, which the README says contains some problem code for reference only. Compare your answer with it after you have tried the problem yourself.

• Write the program in a file of your own, for example one per problem number.
• Run it with Python 3 on sample input and check the output against the task.
• Use the linked references only when you are stuck, then return to your own version.

Use the problems to build small projects

Many problems combine a few skills, such as reading files, handling data formats and making a small web page. The web problems ask you to build a guestbook and a TodoList using a Python web framework. The README links a discussion of Python web frameworks but does not recommend one.

Some problems depend on outside services or files. Problem 0020, for example, asks you to export call records from a Chinese mobile operator's website, and problem 0013 asks you to download images from a linked page. Treat these as exercises in the approach rather than guaranteed steps, since the external sources may have changed.

• Files: word counting, line counting and format conversion between txt, xls, xml and text data.
• Images: resizing photos and generating a verification code image.
• Web: a guestbook and a TodoList app.
• Other: password hashing for storage, and a speech-to-text idea for opening a default website.

Keep expectations realistic about library guidance

The README mainly lists problems and links to outside references, so it does not teach each concept in depth. The project has not been updated in years, so library choices in the reference material may be out of date. When a problem names a specific library or service, check its current documentation before relying on the approach.

• Check current library documentation for anything the problem names.
• Expect outside links to be older than current Python practice.
• Pair the list with a structured course if you need explanations.