15 beginner Python projects you can build today

Before Netflix became a streaming giant with over 200 million subscribers, it was a DVD rental startup powered by a small, ambitious engineering team. In the late 90s, these engineers didn’t have vast resources, but they thrived on quick experimentation and fast iteration.

At companies like Netflix, many powerful features have historically started as small internal tools. Personalized recommendations, for instance, didn’t emerge from massive planning cycles. They often began as simple scripts, sometimes written in Python by engineers solving everyday problems.

While not every origin story is documented in detail, this pattern of tackling real challenges with scrappy prototypes is a hallmark of how great systems evolve. Over time, those humble beginnings can scale into the backbone of a global platform.

In this blog, we’ll introduce 15 Python coding projects for beginners, ranging from easy to moderately challenging, that you can start building today. These hands-on projects are great ways to practice Python by creating actual programs, so you don’t get stuck in an “endless tutorial loop.”

By the end of this list, you’ll have plenty of ideas to fill your portfolio and the skills to tackle bigger challenges.

Beginner Python projects#

The following projects are perfect for absolute beginners. These Python coding projects focus on basic concepts like printing output, using variables, getting user input, and simple logic. They are quick to build and will give you a solid foundation.

1. Hello World!#

This foundational program ensures your development environment is configured correctly and ready to use. Writing a “Hello World” script introduces basic Python syntax, code execution processes, and fundamental debugging steps. Completing this simple task provides immediate confidence, laying essential groundwork for tackling more complex projects with clarity and ease.

2. Simple calculator#

A basic calculator project teaches essential programming concepts like variables, data types, conditional statements, and handling user input. It strengthens your understanding of logical flow, allowing you to create intuitive programs that can respond dynamically to user interactions.

These foundational skills are broadly applicable in real-world scenarios such as developing financial tools or simple productivity applications.

3. Mad Libs generator#

Mad Libs is a classic word game perfect for beginners learning string manipulation and user input in Python. The program asks the user for a set of words like nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and then uses those inputs to fill in blanks in a pre-written story template, generating a funny or nonsensical result.

This project teaches you how to:

• Collect and use user input.

• Practice string formatting (using f-strings or .format()).

• Organize your code using basic functions.

It’s a great way to make coding interactive and creative while getting hands-on experience with core programming concepts.

4. Random number guessing game#

This game introduces you to control flow, loops, and randomness, essential concepts in many real-world applications. The program randomly selects a number, and the user tries to guess it. After each guess, the program provides feedback, like “too high” or “too low,” until the correct number is guessed.

This project helps you learn how to:

• Use the **random** module.

• Implement while loops for repeated input.

• Apply conditional logic with if, elif, and else statements.

It’s a foundational project for building interactive command-line games and understanding how programs respond dynamically to user behavior.

5. Dice roller#

Simulating a dice roll is a great way to deepen your understanding of randomness and repetition in code. This project also teaches you how to simulate real-world phenomena with software and how to allow users to repeat actions within a program.

You’ll develop skills in using built-in Python libraries and see firsthand how even simple simulations can be the basis for more complex gaming or statistical projects in the future.

It’s a simple but practical piece in your collection of Python practice ideas.

Intermediate Python projects#

These projects are a bit more involved and may require understanding data structures, external libraries, or slightly more complex logic. However, they are still doable for beginners who have covered the basics and want to learn Python by building something larger. Working through these will further strengthen your coding skills.

These range from moderately challenging to more advanced beginner projects. They may involve APIs, web frameworks, or external libraries.

6. To-do list app#

Building a to-do list app will help you understand how to store, organize, and manage data in a program. You’ll practice creating interactive menus, updating lists, and designing logic that reflects real-world workflows.

This project builds skills in working with Python’s core data structures. It helps you develop habits for structuring code and handling user input effectively, which is essential for building scalable applications later.

7. Text-based adventure game#

Designing an adventure game is both fun and highly educational. You’ll learn how to use conditional logic to create branching storylines, manage user choices, and build interactive experiences.

This project challenges you to think creatively about how your program flows, introduces you to the concept of state and progression in games, and encourages modular thinking by breaking your story into scenes and decisions.

8. Simple web scraper#

With a web scraper, you’ll gain hands-on experience fetching and processing real-world data from the internet. This project teaches you how to use external libraries, navigate website structures (like HTML), and extract useful information automatically.

You’ll also build problem-solving skills around data parsing and error handling—invaluable abilities in data science, automation, and research roles.

9. Hangman game#

Hangman combines many fundamental programming concepts—loops, conditions, data structures, and user interaction. You'll become comfortable handling complexity in your programs by managing the game state, tracking guesses, and updating the display.

This project also encourages you to consider providing feedback and creating a positive user experience, essential considerations in any software project.

10. Weather app#

Creating a weather app introduces you to APIs and working with data from external services—a critical skill for modern developers. You’ll learn how to send requests, parse returned data (like JSON), and present information in a clear way.

This project expands your understanding of how different technologies interact and prepares you to build applications that pull in live, real-time information.

Challenging Python projects#

The projects in this section are more ambitious for a beginner, but they are still approachable with some persistence. These ideas often integrate multiple concepts or external services.

Don’t worry if they seem difficult. Tackling a slightly challenging project is an excellent way to push your limits and learn new skills. Even if you run into obstacles, you’ll come out knowing much more than before.

11. Expense tracker#

Developing an expense tracker introduces practical data collection, calculation, and organization skills relevant to everyday life and professional settings. You’ll gain experience with data structures like lists and dictionaries to store and manage expense records effectively. Additionally, you’ll implement functionality to summarize and visualize spending data clearly, enhancing your analytical abilities.

This project can further expand into data persistence through file storage or databases, essential skills for business applications, personal finance tools, and enterprise resource planning systems.

12. Basic web application (Flask)#

Creating a basic web application with Flask opens up the world of web development, providing insights into server-client communication, routing, and dynamic content rendering. You’ll learn about web server architecture, request-response cycles, and templating systems.

These foundational web development concepts prepare you for front-end, back-end, or full stack development roles. Flask is lightweight and user-friendly, making it an excellent starting point for building scalable and interactive web applications.

13. Automated email sender#

Building an automated email sender will give you experience integrating your Python code with internet protocols and external services. You’ll learn to handle message formatting, authentication methods, and security considerations.

Automating email communications is a highly marketable skill, crucial for marketing automation, customer relationship management, and productivity-enhancing tasks in businesses of all sizes. This project demonstrates your ability to create efficient, practical software tools.

14. Twitter bot#

Creating a Twitter bot gives practical experience with social media APIs, handling real-time data, authentication processes, and task automation. You’ll develop capabilities in scheduling tasks, responding automatically to user interactions, and extracting insights from online content.

Such experience applies to digital marketing, social media analytics, automated customer service, and content engagement strategies. A good hold on these skills significantly enhances your marketability in tech and marketing roles.

15. Password generator and manager#

Building a password generator and manager involves exploring critical cybersecurity principles, including randomization techniques, secure data storage, and safe information retrieval practices. You’ll become adept at creating user-friendly yet secure software solutions that effectively manage sensitive information.

This project lays the groundwork for further exploration into cybersecurity, data privacy, and application security. It is particularly valuable for roles in technology security, IT management, or software development where data protection is paramount.

Tips for project success#

Getting started with these Python projects is exciting, but here are some tips to help you succeed and make the most of the learning experience:

• Start small, then build up: Break projects into smaller tasks. For example, get one part working (like rolling one dice) before expanding (rolling multiple dice or adding more features).

• Plan and pseudocode: Before coding, take a moment to plan your approach. Writing out pseudocode or steps in plain English can clarify your thinking and save time debugging.

• Test as you go: Run your code frequently, even after adding small changes. This way, if something breaks, you know exactly where it happened. Writing simple tests or using print statements to check values will help catch errors early.

• Don’t fear errors, debug them: Errors are inevitable. When you hit a bug or error message, use it as a learning opportunity. Read the traceback, search the error online, and try to understand what went wrong. Debugging is a huge part of programming; you get better at it with practice.

• Expand your knowledge: Don't be discouraged if your project requires something you haven’t learned yet (like using an API or a new library). Look it up in the documentation or find a tutorial for that specific thing. Learning to “learn on the fly” is a key developer skill.

• Keep it organized: Write clean code and use comments where necessary. A good organization will help when your projects become larger. Also, using meaningful variable names and functions to encapsulate tasks can make your code more readable and maintainable.

• Use version control (Git): As you progress to more complex projects, consider using git. It might be overkill for a small script, but learning it early will help you manage changes and collaborate in the future.

• Stay consistent and have fun: Consistency is key in learning. Try to code a little every day or every week. And choose project ideas that genuinely interest you – you’ll be more motivated and enjoy the process. Building games, for instance, can make learning feel like play.

Where to get help#

No developer writes code in isolation; we rely on the community and documentation when we get stuck.

Here are some great resources and communities where you can get help or guidance as you work on these Python projects:

• Stack Overflow: The go-to Q&A site for programming. You can search for error messages or ask questions (just remember to provide details about your issue and what you’ve tried).

• Reddit (r/learnpython): A helpful subreddit where beginners and experienced programmers discuss Python problems and share advice. It’s a friendly place to ask beginner questions.

• Python Discord: An online chat community (on Discord) with channels for help, project feedback, and general discussion. There are always people online to help debug or explain concepts.

• GitHub and GitHub Gist: Browsing GitHub can be inspiring—you might find others’ code for similar projects. GitHub Gist is useful for sharing code snippets when asking for help.

• Educative.io courses and community: Educative has interactive Python courses and an active community of learners. If you’re following a structured course on Educative, don’t hesitate to use their discussion boards to ask questions.

• Official Python documentation (Python.org): Python’s official docs and tutorials are excellent. The Tutorial on python.org can guide you through the basics, and the Library Reference is fantastic when you need details about a specific function or module. It might initially seem dense, but it's worth getting familiar with.

• Local meetups or coding groups: Depending on where you live, you might find local programming meetups or online cohorts. Sometimes discussing with a peer or mentor can quickly unblock you.

Remember, seeking help is a regular part of the coding journey. Just make sure you attempt the problem yourself first; you’ll learn more by doing so, and then ask with specific questions or examples of your code.

What’s next?#

Congratulations on taking the initiative to learn Python by building projects! By completing these 15 beginner projects, you’ve practiced a wide range of skills—from basic syntax and loops to using libraries and APIs. You should now have the confidence to explore even more ideas.

So, what’s next? Here are a few suggestions to keep your momentum going:

• Tackle bigger projects: Challenge yourself with a larger project that integrating multiple skills. For example, you could combine the web scraper and email sender to create an automatic alert system, or turn the expense tracker into a small web app.

• Learn advanced topics: Python has many domains to explore – web development (Django or Flask), data science (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn), automation (writing scripts to automate tasks), or even game development (Pygame). Pick an area that interests you and try a project there.

• Contribute to open source: Browse GitHub for beginner-friendly repositories (look for “good first issue” tags). Contributing to an open-source project can teach you much about coding standards and collaboration. Plus, it’s great for your portfolio.

• Continue with structured learning: To deepen your knowledge, consider taking a more advanced course or following a learning path on Educative.io or other platforms. Structured learning can fill gaps in your understanding and introduce you to best practices.

• Build a portfolio: Publish your projects on GitHub or create a personal website to showcase your work. Not only is this helpful for job hunting in the future, but it also lets you track your progress over time. You’ll be amazed to look back and see how far you’ve come.

• Never stop experimenting: The Python community is vast, and there are countless libraries and frameworks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools or ideas. Each small project or experiment you do adds to your experience.

Most importantly, keep coding and keep having fun. Programming is a journey where there’s always something new to learn. Every project you build adds to your skill set and reinforces the mindset you know by creating and solving problems.

Good luck, and happy coding!