After a much-needed break from the 100 days of code challenge, I revisited some of the previous lessons and decided to focus on the project from Day 28 since it's the most relevant to my real-life needs.
Building the Pomodoro program was a fun experience, and I'm really pleased with the final result!
For those who don’t know the pomodoro method:
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by five-minute breaks. Longer breaks, typically 15 to 30 minutes, are taken after four consecutive work intervals. Each work interval is called a pomodoro, the Italian word for tomato (plural: pomodori).
Learning outcomes:
Tkinter
How to make my python program as a desktop application
Main project:
Pomodoro timer.
Access my Replit and click on the green button “Run”. Then click on “start” to start the timer or “reset”.
If you want to change the time, simply replace “25” by the number of minutes you would like, in main.py on line 11:
Key takeaway:
I've decided to change my approach to the 100 days of code challenge. While it's a fantastic course, I've realized that simply 'doing for the sake of doing' isn't the most effective way for me to learn. I learn best when my coding projects have a genuine impact on someone's life or bring joy. This approach makes the learning journey more meaningful and enjoyable, and it’s a real motivation booster!
Tkinter
Tkinter is the first option for a lot of learners because it is quick and convenient to use. Tkinter is a Python library that can be used to build basic graphical user interface (GUI) applications.
Like my pomodoro project:
How to make my python program as a desktop application
I simply followed this tutorial: Creating Desktop Apps from Python files in 5 Easy Steps. Very quick and easy way to transform a Python file to an executable file.
I encountered one small issue: the tomato image was not found while the file was in the right folder. I just had to add the entire path to the image in the pomodoro.spec so that the PyInstaller-generated executable can find the "tomato.png" file correctly.
And now, I have a desktop app along with another one I had made called “mile to kilometer converter”.
I use my pomodoro app everyday, setting my work sessions at 60min and I do feel more motivated and focused; probably because I’m using an app I actually built by myself for a real-life use?
For Day 29, I’ve built a password generator/manager using cryptography to encrypt and decrypt a randomly generated password. More on than in the next post :)
Happy coding!
Camille