Day 1 of 100 Days Coding Challenge: Python
The great .py Awakening
The Great .py Awakening is the moment I turned confusion into creation, proving that even the smallest script can spark a journey of growth and persistence.
Day one was like moving into a new apartment where all the furniture keeps slipping out the back door. I had to install everything from scratch—VS Code, Python, Git—and even go spelunking through my password manager to revive my long-lost GitHub account. Apparently, I once took a Python course and then dropped it, much like a bad Tinder date.
My first project? A to-do list app. Ironically, the one thing I should have built before I started this challenge. But instead of writing tasks, I dove straight into writing code—without knowing how to create a .py file. Up until now, I’d been tossing code into browser-based compilers like a hobbyist throwing spaghetti at a virtual wall.
Still, I did it. I made a real file—a real app. And despite a few “what even is a terminal?” moments, I now have a tiny program that adds, removes, and lists tasks. It’s basically productivity’s version of learning to boil water.
Today’s Motivation / Challenge
I wanted to start with something useful and immediately rewarding. A to-do list felt like the programming version of planting herbs on your kitchen windowsill—it’s simple, practical, and gives you an excuse to say, “Oh, this? I made it myself.” It also forced me to practice creating files, running scripts, and not panicking when my terminal asked me to press keys, as if it were judging my life choices.
Purpose of the Code (Object)
The app is a simple, command-line-based to-do list. It lets you add tasks, view your current list, and remove items you’ve completed or abandoned due to procrastination. All the tasks are saved in a text file, so you don’t lose them when you close the app—unless, of course, you delete the file, which I did. Twice.
AI Prompt
Create a simple Python to-do list app. It should let users add, view, and remove tasks. Store tasks in a text file so they persist between sessions.
Functions & Features
- Add a task by typing it in
- View all current tasks in a numbered list
- Remove a task by selecting its number
- All tasks are saved in a plain .txt file
Requirements / Setup
Python 3.10 or higher
No external packages required
Minimal Code Sample
def read_tasks():
with open("tasks.txt", "r") as file:
return file.read().splitlines()Reads the tasks from a text file and returns them as a list—basic, but essential.
Notes / Lessons Learned
I learned how to create folders, navigate directories, and use the cd command, as if I were starring in a low-budget ‘90s hacker movie. I even managed to connect Codex to GitHub… eventually. It felt less like a setup process and more like a professional wrestling match with invisible tech gremlins.
The most surprisingly difficult part? Figuring out how to push my code to GitHub. The last time I used Git was in 2023, and apparently, I’d flushed all that knowledge from my brain to make room for banana bread recipes and TV quotes. But guess what? My first to-do list app actually worked! A little too well—it zipped through the prompts faster than I could respond. Honestly, I’ll probably go back to using Google Calendar and Gemini for actual task management, but the app exists, it runs, and it’s up on GitHub like a proud toddler drawing taped to the fridge.
Optional Ideas for Expansion
- Add due dates or time reminders to each task
- Color-code tasks by urgency (for a future GUI version)
- Let users mark tasks as “done” instead of just deleting them