Learning-Resources

⚡ 2-Month Python + GitHub Copilot Curriculum

A structured 8-week plan to take you from basic Python to professional software development with GUIs, APIs, modularity, and Copilot mastery.

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📍 Week 1 — Setup & Python Refresh

Goals

• Set up development environment
• Enable GitHub Copilot in VS Code
• Refresh Python syntax & basics
• Learn Git basics

Topics

• Python: variables, functions, loops, data types
• Git: clone, branch, commit, push/pull
• Copilot setup in VS Code

Resources

• Python Official Tutorial
• GitHub Copilot Quickstart
• Copilot in VS Code: Getting Started
• GitHub Skills: Intro to GitHub

Deliverable
A CLI script (e.g., calculator or JSON parser) with type hints + docstrings, version-controlled in Git.

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📍 Week 2 — Professional Python Practices

Goals

• Write code with professional structure & standards
• Learn error handling, logging, testing

Topics

• OOP (classes, inheritance, composition)
• Error handling & logging (logging module)
• Virtual environments (venv, pip)
• Unit testing with pytest

Resources

• PEP 8 Style Guide
• Logging HOWTO (Python Docs)
• pytest Getting Started
• Python Docs — venv
• Installing Packages with pip and venv (Python Packaging Guide)
• RealPython: Python Virtual Environments Primer

Deliverable
A Python package (e.g., math utilities) with logging + pytest test suite.

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📍 Week 3 — PyQt5 Fundamentals

Goals

• Build basic desktop GUIs
• Structure GUIs for maintainability

Topics

• PyQt5: widgets, layouts, signals/slots
• Qt Designer → .ui → Python code
• Threads & timers for background tasks

Resources

• PyQt5 Tutorial (Python GUIs)
• RealPython: PyQt GUI Programming
• Qt for Python Model/View Tutorial

Deliverable
A PyQt5 “Dashboard” app with buttons to start/stop a process and a live counter.

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📍 Week 4 — APIs & Async Programming

Goals

• Connect apps to external APIs
• Handle async tasks properly

Topics

• REST APIs: GET/POST with requests
• JSON parsing
• Async tasks (threading, asyncio)
• Data visualization (matplotlib, PyQtGraph)

Resources

• Requests: HTTP for Humans
• RealPython: API Integration in Python
• asyncio Official Docs

Deliverable
A GUI that fetches live data from a public API (e.g., weather or crypto) and plots results.

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📍 Week 5 — Modular Projects & Plugins

Goals

• Structure larger projects cleanly
• Implement plugin/extension systems

Topics

• Modular architecture (packages, imports)
• Plugin/extension patterns (dynamic loading)
• Config files (JSON, YAML)
• Writing documentation (README, docstrings)

Resources

• Python Packaging Tutorial (PyPA)
• RealPython: Plugin Architecture in Python
• MkDocs for Documentation

Deliverable
Extend Week 4 project with a plugin system that adds new “panels” or features dynamically.

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📍 Week 6 — Copilot Mastery & Code Quality

Goals

• Use Copilot effectively for scaffolding & refactoring
• Enforce maintainability & readability

Topics

• Copilot prompt engineering (Context → Task → Constraints)
• Copilot Chat for debugging, tests, docs
• Code formatting (black, flake8)
• Auto-generating docs/tests with Copilot

Resources

• Prompt Engineering for Copilot (GitHub Docs)
• Write Tests with Copilot
• Black Code Formatter
• Best practices for using GitHub Copilot
• Prompt engineering for GitHub Copilot Chat
• 5 Tips for Writing Better Custom Instructions for Copilot (GitHub Blog)
• Best practices for using Copilot to work on tasks (Coding Agent)
• Microsoft Learn: Introduction to Prompt Engineering with GitHub Copilot

Deliverable
Refactor earlier projects with Copilot → enforce PEP-8, add tests, auto-generate README/docs.

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📍 Week 7 — Advanced Python & Collaboration

Goals

• Apply advanced design practices
• Work in GitHub workflows like a professional

Topics

• Design patterns (Observer, Factory, Singleton)
• Async/parallel programming patterns
• Packaging & distribution with Poetry/setuptools
• GitHub workflows: PRs, reviews, CI/CD

Resources

• RealPython: Python Design Patterns
• Poetry Official Docs
• GitHub Actions: Python CI

Deliverable
A modular GUI app with at least 2 plugins, tested + CI workflow on GitHub.

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📍 Week 8 — Capstone Project

Goals

• Apply everything in one end-to-end project

Capstone Project:
Modular Control Suite

• PyQt5 UI with multiple panels (status, logs, control)
• API integration (fetch + send data)
• Plugin system for extensibility
• Logging + error handling
• Tests + GitHub repo with CI/CD + documentation

Deliverable
A polished GitHub repository with:
✅ PyQt5 GUI
✅ API integration
✅ Plugins/extensions
✅ Tests & CI/CD
✅ Documentation

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🎯 Outcomes After 2 Months

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

• Write clean, modular Python code with tests & docs
• Build professional GUIs in PyQt5
• Integrate REST APIs with error handling
• Create plugin/extension systems
• Use Copilot effectively for prompting, debugging, and refactoring
• Work with GitHub workflows like a professional developer