Week_9.md

Week 9: Capstone Project – Python + SQL + APIs Application

Why Learn This?

This week brings together everything you’ve learned to build a complete, real-world Python application. You’ll integrate:

• A command-line interface
• External API data
• SQL database storage using SQLAlchemy
• Functional and object-oriented Python
• Error handling, testing, and file I/O

Building and showcasing a project is essential for:

• Cementing your knowledge
• Demonstrating your skills to employers
• Gaining confidence as a developer

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Capstone Project Instructions

Objective

Build a CLI application that:

• Accepts user input
• Fetches data from a public API
• Saves data to a database (SQLite via SQLAlchemy)
• Displays or modifies stored data
• Includes at least one class and one function

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Suggested Project Ideas

1. Weather Dashboard

   • Input: City name
   • API: OpenWeatherMap
   • Output: Current weather
   • Store past searches in SQLite

2. Crypto Tracker

   • Input: Cryptocurrency symbol
   • API: CoinGecko
   • Output: Current price
   • Log prices over time

3. Book Search & Save

   • Input: Book title
   • API: Google Books
   • Output: Book details
   • Save favorites to database

4. Movie Explorer

   • Input: Movie title
   • API: OMDB
   • Output: Summary & ratings
   • Add movies to a “watchlist”

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Requirements Checklist

Feature	Required
Accept user input (CLI)	✅
Use an external API (requests)	✅
Handle API errors gracefully	✅
Use SQLAlchemy for persistence	✅
Implement at least one class	✅
Include at least one function	✅
Use a virtual environment	✅
Add a README.md with instructions	✅
Bonus: Add unit tests	🔘

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Example Code Snippet (Weather CLI)

import requests
from sqlalchemy import create_engine, Column, Integer, String
from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base, sessionmaker

# SQLAlchemy setup
Base = declarative_base()
engine = create_engine("sqlite:///weather.db")
Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine)
session = Session()

class CityWeather(Base):
    __tablename__ = "weather"
    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
    city = Column(String)
    temp = Column(String)

Base.metadata.create_all(engine)

def get_weather(city):
    try:
        api_key = "your_api_key_here"
        url = f"http://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q={city}&appid={api_key}&units=metric"
        response = requests.get(url)
        response.raise_for_status()
        data = response.json()
        temp = data["main"]["temp"]
        session.add(CityWeather(city=city, temp=str(temp)))
        session.commit()
        print(f"{city.title()} is {temp}°C")
    except Exception as e:
        print("Error:", e)

city = input("Enter a city: ")
get_weather(city)

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Packaging & Sharing

1. Save your project in a folder:

   • main.py (entry point)
   • requirements.txt
   • README.md
   • Optional: test_main.py

2. Run pip freeze > requirements.txt

3. Zip or push to GitHub

4. Prepare to demo your project in a 5-minute walkthrough:

   • What it does
   • How it works
   • What tools you used
   • What you learned

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Week 9 Summary

• You built a real, working Python app from scratch.
• You connected code to the outside world using APIs and databases.
• You used everything from functions and classes to requests and SQLAlchemy.
• You now have a polished project to showcase on your resume and GitHub.

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Graduation Checklist

• Project Complete and Runs Without Errors
• Code is Pushed to GitHub
• README with Setup Instructions
• You’ve Practiced a Short Demo
• Certificate Claimed
• Feedback Submitted
• You’re Proud of What You Built