Add 5 new exercises with solutions, runner, and CI; fix tutorial links

python-beginner-help · python-beginner-help · commit d10f8f4182a1 · 2026-06-07T12:30:34.000+02:00
- Replace generic /learn/ links in all existing exercises and
  solutions with the matching specific tutorial URL.
- Add exercises 06-10: dictionaries, conditionals, files, errors /
  try-except, and classes — each with a self-check and a matching
  solution.
- Add run_all.py: a small runner that executes every exercise and
  reports pass / fail / skip (skips exercises that still contain
  TODO placeholders).
- Add .github/workflows/exercises.yml: runs every solutions/*.py
  file on Python 3.11 for every push and pull request.
- Update the README to list all 10 exercises and document the
  runner and CI.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/exercises.yml b/.github/workflows/exercises.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: exercises
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
+
+jobs:
+  run-exercises:
+    name: Run solution exercises
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.11"
+      - name: Run solutions
+        run: |
+          for f in solutions/*.py; do
+            echo "== $f =="
+            python "$f"
+          done
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -12,37 +12,57 @@ These exercises mirror the learning track on **[pythonbeginner.help](https://pyt
 
 ## How to use
 
-1. Make sure you have [Python installed](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) (3.8+).
-2. Open an exercise in the [`exercises/`](exercises) folder and complete the `TODO`.
+1. Make sure you have [Python installed](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/how-to-install-python-on-windows-macos-and-linux/) (3.8+).
+2. Open an exercise in the [`exercises/`](exercises) folder and complete the `TODO`s.
 3. Run it — each file checks your answer with `assert` and prints ✅ when it passes:
 
    ```bash
    python exercises/01_variables.py
    ```
 
 4. Stuck? Compare with the matching file in [`solutions/`](solutions).
+5. Run every exercise at once with the bundled runner:
+
+   ```bash
+   python run_all.py            # stop on first failure
+   python run_all.py --keep     # run them all, report each result
+   ```
+
+The runner also reports any unfinished exercise (one that still contains `...` TODO placeholders) as `SKIP` so you can see at a glance what's left to do.
 
 ## Exercises
 
-| # | Exercise | Topic | Tutorial |
-|---|----------|-------|----------|
-| 01 | [Variables & types](exercises/01_variables.py) | Variables, `int`/`str` | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) |
-| 02 | [String methods](exercises/02_strings.py) | Strings, slicing | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) |
-| 03 | [Lists](exercises/03_lists.py) | Lists, indexing | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) |
-| 04 | [Loops](exercises/04_loops.py) | `for` / `range` | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) |
-| 05 | [Functions](exercises/05_functions.py) | `def`, return values | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/) |
+| #  | Exercise                          | Topic                                | Tutorial                                                                                                        |
+|----|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| 01 | [Variables & types](exercises/01_variables.py)               | Variables, `int` / `str`             | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-variables-explained-for-beginners/)                          |
+| 02 | [String methods](exercises/02_strings.py)                    | Strings, slicing                     | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-strings-explained-basics-and-examples/)                     |
+| 03 | [Lists](exercises/03_lists.py)                                | Lists, indexing, `sorted()`          | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-lists-explained-beginner-guide/)                             |
+| 04 | [Loops](exercises/04_loops.py)                                | `for` and `range`                    | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-for-loops-explained/)                                        |
+| 05 | [Functions](exercises/05_functions.py)                        | `def`, return values                 | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-functions-explained/)                                       |
+| 06 | [Dictionaries](exercises/06_dictionaries.py)                  | `dict`, `.get()`, keys               | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-dictionaries-explained/)                                    |
+| 07 | [Conditionals](exercises/07_conditionals.py)                  | `if` / `elif` / `else`, ternary      | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-if-else-and-elif-explained/)                                |
+| 08 | [Files](exercises/08_files.py)                                | `open`, `read`, `write`              | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-file-handling-basics-read-and-write/)                        |
+| 09 | [Errors & try/except](exercises/09_errors.py)                 | `try`, `except ValueError`           | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/using-try-except-else-and-finally-in-python/)                       |
+| 10 | [Classes](exercises/10_classes.py)                            | `class`, `__init__`, methods         | [Learn →](https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-classes-and-objects-explained/)                             |
+
+## CI
+
+Every push and pull request runs all of the `solutions/*.py` files through GitHub Actions on Python 3.11, so the answers are always verified to work. See [`.github/workflows/exercises.yml`](.github/workflows/exercises.yml).
 
 ## Run all exercises at once
 
 ```bash
 for f in exercises/*.py; do echo "== $f =="; python "$f"; done
 ```
 
-## More
+…or just use the runner above.
+
+## Companion repos
 
 - 📚 Tutorials: **[pythonbeginner.help](https://pythonbeginner.help)**
 - 📋 [Python Cheatsheet](https://github.com/python-beginner-help/python-cheatsheet)
 - 🔧 [Python Error Fixes](https://github.com/python-beginner-help/python-error-fixes) — when an exercise throws an error you don't recognise.
+- ⭐ [Awesome Python for Beginners](https://github.com/python-beginner-help/awesome-python-for-beginners) — the curated resource list.
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/exercises/01_variables.py b/exercises/01_variables.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise 01 — Variables & types.
 
-Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-variables-explained-for-beginners/
 
 TODO:
   1. Create a variable `name` holding your name as a string.
diff --git a/exercises/02_strings.py b/exercises/02_strings.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise 02 — String methods & slicing.
 
-Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-strings-explained-basics-and-examples/
 
 TODO: given `phrase`, produce:
   1. `shout`  -> the phrase in UPPERCASE
diff --git a/exercises/03_lists.py b/exercises/03_lists.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise 03 — Lists.
 
-Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-lists-explained-beginner-guide/
 
 TODO: starting from `nums`:
   1. Append the number 5.
diff --git a/exercises/04_loops.py b/exercises/04_loops.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise 04 — Loops.
 
-Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-for-loops-explained/
 
 TODO: using a loop,
   1. Build `squares` = [0, 1, 4, 9, 16] (squares of 0..4).
diff --git a/exercises/05_functions.py b/exercises/05_functions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Exercise 05 — Functions.
 
-Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-functions-explained/
 
 TODO:
   1. Write `greet(name)` that returns "Hello, <name>!".
diff --git a/exercises/06_dictionaries.py b/exercises/06_dictionaries.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""Exercise 06 — Dictionaries.
+
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-dictionaries-explained/
+
+TODO: starting from `prices`:
+  1. Add a new key "pear" with the value 3.
+  2. Look up the price of "apple" safely into `apple_price`
+     (use `.get()` so missing keys don't crash — return None if absent).
+  3. Build `items` = a list of the keys in `prices`.
+
+Run:  python exercises/06_dictionaries.py
+"""
+
+prices = {"apple": 2, "banana": 1, "orange": 4}
+
+# --- your code below -------------------------------------------------------
+# TODO: prices["pear"] = 3
+apple_price = ...   # TODO: prices.get("apple")
+items = ...         # TODO: list(prices.keys())
+
+# --- self-check (don't edit) ----------------------------------------------
+assert prices["pear"] == 3, "did you add 'pear': 3 to prices?"
+assert apple_price == 2, "apple_price should be 2"
+assert sorted(items) == ["apple", "banana", "orange", "pear"], "items should list all keys"
+print("✅ Passed!", "prices:", prices, "| apple_price:", apple_price)
diff --git a/exercises/07_conditionals.py b/exercises/07_conditionals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Exercise 07 — Conditionals.
+
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-if-else-and-elif-explained/
+
+TODO: classify a number:
+  1. Set `label` to "positive", "zero", or "negative" based on `n`.
+  2. Set `parity` to "even" or "odd" using a ternary expression.
+
+Run:  python exercises/07_conditionals.py
+"""
+
+n = -7
+
+# --- your code below -------------------------------------------------------
+if n > 0:
+    label = ...   # TODO: "positive"
+elif n < 0:
+    label = ...   # TODO: "negative"
+else:
+    label = ...   # TODO: "zero"
+
+parity = ...  # TODO: "even" if n % 2 == 0 else "odd"
+
+# --- self-check (don't edit) ----------------------------------------------
+assert label == "negative", "for n = -7, label should be 'negative'"
+assert parity == "odd", "for n = -7, parity should be 'odd'"
+print("✅ Passed!", "label:", label, "| parity:", parity)
diff --git a/exercises/08_files.py b/exercises/08_files.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""Exercise 08 — Files.
+
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-file-handling-basics-read-and-write/
+
+TODO:
+  1. Write the lines in `lines` to a temp file called `greeting.txt`.
+  2. Read the same file back into `contents` (as a single string).
+
+The file should live in the current working directory and is cleaned up
+automatically after the self-check runs.
+
+Run:  python exercises/08_files.py
+"""
+
+import os
+
+lines = ["Hello, world!", "Welcome to Python.", "Goodbye."]
+
+# --- your code below -------------------------------------------------------
+path = "greeting.txt"
+
+# TODO: open(path, "w") and write each line in `lines` (remember "\n")
+
+contents = ...  # TODO: open(path) and read the whole file
+
+# --- self-check (don't edit) ----------------------------------------------
+assert contents == "Hello, world!\nWelcome to Python.\nGoodbye.\n", \
+    f"contents was {contents!r}"
+print("✅ Passed!", "file contents:", repr(contents))
+
+os.remove(path)
diff --git a/exercises/09_errors.py b/exercises/09_errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""Exercise 09 — Errors & try/except.
+
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/using-try-except-else-and-finally-in-python/
+
+TODO:
+  1. Write `safe_int(text)` that returns `int(text)` if possible,
+     otherwise returns `None` — without raising an exception.
+  2. Test it on a few values and store the results in `results`
+     (a list with three entries: safe_int("42"), safe_int("hi"), safe_int(" 7 ")).
+
+Run:  python exercises/09_errors.py
+"""
+
+# --- your code below -------------------------------------------------------
+def safe_int(text):
+    ...  # TODO: try int(text); return None on ValueError
+
+
+results = [safe_int("42"), safe_int("hi"), safe_int(" 7 ")]
+
+# --- self-check (don't edit) ----------------------------------------------
+assert safe_int("42") == 42, "safe_int('42') should return 42"
+assert safe_int("hi") is None, "safe_int('hi') should return None"
+assert safe_int(" 7 ") == 7, "safe_int(' 7 ') should return 7"
+assert results == [42, None, 7], "results list is wrong"
+print("✅ Passed!", "results:", results)
diff --git a/exercises/10_classes.py b/exercises/10_classes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""Exercise 10 — Classes.
+
+Tutorial: https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-classes-and-objects-explained/
+
+TODO:
+  1. Define a class `Dog` with:
+       - __init__(self, name) that stores the name
+       - bark(self) that returns "Woof! I'm <name>."
+  2. Create a Dog named "Rex" in `rex`, and store its bark() in `sound`.
+
+Run:  python exercises/10_classes.py
+"""
+
+# --- your code below -------------------------------------------------------
+class Dog:
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        ...  # TODO: store the name on self
+
+    def bark(self):
+        ...  # TODO: return f"Woof! I'm {self.name}."
+
+
+rex = ...        # TODO: Dog("Rex")
+sound = ...      # TODO: rex.bark()
+
+# --- self-check (don't edit) ----------------------------------------------
+assert isinstance(rex, Dog), "rex should be a Dog"
+assert rex.name == "Rex", "rex.name should be 'Rex'"
+assert sound == "Woof! I'm Rex.", f"sound was {sound!r}"
+print("✅ Passed!", sound)
diff --git a/run_all.py b/run_all.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Run all exercises in exercises/ and report pass/fail.
+
+Usage:
+    python run_all.py            # run every exercise, stop on first failure
+    python run_all.py --keep     # don't stop on first failure, report all
+
+Exercises that contain `...` (a TODO placeholder) are skipped with a clear
+message — that is how unfinished work shows up.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import importlib.util
+import sys
+import traceback
+from pathlib import Path
+
+EXERCISES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "exercises"
+
+
+def iter_exercise_files() -> list[Path]:
+    return sorted(p for p in EXERCISES_DIR.glob("*.py") if not p.name.startswith("_"))
+
+
+def has_todo(path: Path) -> bool:
+    return "..." in path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").split("# --- self-check")[0]
+
+
+def run_one(path: Path) -> str:
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(path.stem, path)
+    if spec is None or spec.loader is None:
+        return "load-error"
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    try:
+        spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    except AssertionError as exc:
+        return f"FAIL: {exc}"
+    except Exception:
+        return "ERROR:\n" + "".join(traceback.format_exc())
+    return "pass"
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--keep", action="store_true",
+                        help="don't stop on first failure; run every exercise")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    files = iter_exercise_files()
+    if not files:
+        print("No exercises found in", EXERCISES_DIR)
+        return 1
+
+    passed = skipped = failed = 0
+    for path in files:
+        print(f"== {path.name} ", end="")
+        print("-" * max(1, 60 - len(path.name)))
+
+        if has_todo(path):
+            print("  SKIP (still has TODO placeholders)")
+            skipped += 1
+            continue
+
+        result = run_one(path)
+        if result == "pass":
+            print("  PASS")
+            passed += 1
+        else:
+            print("  " + result.replace("\n", "\n  "))
+            failed += 1
+            if not args.keep:
+                return 1
+
+    print()
+    print(f"Summary: {passed} passed, {skipped} skipped, {failed} failed")
+    return 0 if failed == 0 else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/solutions/01_variables.py b/solutions/01_variables.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Solution 01 — Variables & types.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/"""
+"""Solution 01 — Variables & types.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-variables-explained-for-beginners/"""
 
 name = "Ada"
 age = 36
diff --git a/solutions/02_strings.py b/solutions/02_strings.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Solution 02 — String methods & slicing.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/"""
+"""Solution 02 — String methods & slicing.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-strings-explained-basics-and-examples/"""
 
 phrase = "python is fun"
 
diff --git a/solutions/03_lists.py b/solutions/03_lists.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Solution 03 — Lists.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/"""
+"""Solution 03 — Lists.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-lists-explained-beginner-guide/"""
 
 nums = [3, 1, 2]
 
diff --git a/solutions/04_loops.py b/solutions/04_loops.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Solution 04 — Loops.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/"""
+"""Solution 04 — Loops.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-for-loops-explained/"""
 
 squares = []
 for i in range(5):
diff --git a/solutions/05_functions.py b/solutions/05_functions.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Solution 05 — Functions.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/"""
+"""Solution 05 — Functions.  https://pythonbeginner.help/learn/python-functions-explained/"""
 
 
 def greet(name):
diff --git a/solutions/06_dictionaries.py b/solutions/06_dictionaries.py
diff --git a/solutions/07_conditionals.py b/solutions/07_conditionals.py
diff --git a/solutions/08_files.py b/solutions/08_files.py
diff --git a/solutions/09_errors.py b/solutions/09_errors.py
diff --git a/solutions/10_classes.py b/solutions/10_classes.py
