lamr 0.1.6

Python course for beginners fully free at your own command line.

lamr

lamr is a content manager to organise and display markdown files and Python code snippets.

You can think of it as a terminal-based textbook with a code collection and exercises that assist you to learn both Python and command line.

Quickstart

pip install lamr
lamr --help

In current version (0.1.7) the following commands should work:

lamr learn variables
lamr code --list
lamr code cal.py --excercises
lamr run cal.py
lamr about

Motivation

On the web you have freecodecamp or another online course of your choice, but as a programmer you are likely to do a lot of work on command line.

What if you wanted an early start with command line and do a part of your studies there? lamr is a tool you can try for this.

[!TIP] If you are new to command line read into What is the Command Line in "Data Science at the Command Line" book and Basics section in "The Art of Command Line" guide.

Unlike many online courses lamr is open-source software written in Python. You can explore its own code and propose changes or enhancements by writing an issue and submitting a pull request. This way you can practice how to work collaboratively on a Python project and share something you know with others.

Installation

You should have a working installation of Python and a terminal, or console, open.

Install lamr:

pip install lamr

Check it works:

lamr --help

Code examples

lamr provides a collection of Python code examples stored as plain text files. You can use lamr code and lamr run to see the code listing or run the files.

>>> lamr code --list
cal.py  Print today's date and a calendar for current month.
x.py    A Twitter clone (maybe).

>>> lamr run cal.py
Today is 2024-02-03

   February 2024
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
          1  2  3  4
 5  6  7  8  9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 29

Code listing

To get a code listing:

lamr code cal.py

"""Print today's date and a calendar for current month."""

from calendar import TextCalendar
from datetime import date

t = date.today()
print("Today is", t)
print()  # prints empty line
TextCalendar().prmonth(t.year, t.month)

For a list of excercises run lamr code with a flag:

lamr code cal.py --excercises

The manual

lamr learn is a small Python textbook aimed at beginners. It is organaized by topic such as string or variables.

>>> lamr learn --list
# prints available topics to study

>>> lamr learn variables
# prints beginner-friendly reader about variables

Development

Check out separate Development section:

>>> lamr about --dev