Level 1 Task 1: Print a Staircase

Overview

This is a simple program that prints a Staircase of a given size.

Learning Objectives

• Basic Python syntax
• Using loops
• Using functions

Resources

Online Resources

Github

• Git and Github
• Git Tutorial (w3schools.com)
• How to Use Git and GitHub – Introduction for Beginners (freecodecamp.org)
• Learn Git Branching (Interactive tutorial)
• Git - Basic Branching and Merging (git-scm.com)
• Pull Requests in VS Code - YouTube

Python

• Python Tutorial (w3schools.com)
• Python Video
• Python for Beginners (freecodecamp.org)

Setup and Tutorial

You will find the github part of this tutorial here

1. Setup

1.1: Install Python (not needed if you have a mac)

• Download Python from here
• Install Python
• Open a terminal and type python --version to check if Python is installed

1.2: Install a Text Editor

• You can use any text editor you like, but I recommend using Visual Studio Code
• Download and install Visual Studio Code
• Open Visual Studio Code and install the Python extension

2. Tutorial

2.1: Creating a new Python file

• Open Visual Studio Code
• Click on the "Explorer" icon on the left
• Click on the "New File" icon
• Save the file as square.py

2.2: Basic Python

• Type the following code in square.py:

print("Hello, World!")

• Open a terminal and navigate to the folder where square.py is located
• Type python square.py to run the program
• You should see Hello, World! printed in the terminal

2.3: Using Loops

• Type the following code in square.py:

for i in range(5):
    print("Hello")

• Run the program again
• You should see Hello printed 5 times in the terminal

2.4: Using Functions

• Type the following code in square.py:

def print_hello(size):
    for i in range(size):
        print("hello")

print_hello(5)

• Run the program again
• You should see Hello printed 5 times in the terminal

2.5: Getting Input from the User

• Type the following code in square.py:

def print_hello(size):
    for i in range(size):
        print("hello")

size = int(input("Enter the size of the square: "))
print_hello(size)

• Run the program again
• You should see Hello printed X times in the terminal
• Replace X with the number you entered
• If you entered 5, you should see Hello printed 5 times in the terminal

Project Overview

Your task is to write a program that prints a Staircase of a given size. The program should take the size of the Staircase as input from the user and print the Staircase accordingly.

Requirements

• The program should take the size of the Staircase as input from the user
• The program should print a Staircase of the given size

Example:

*
**
***
****
*****

• The program should use a function to print the Staircase
• The program should use loops to print the Staircase
• The program should be written in Python

Bonus

• The program should print both sides of the staircase.

Example:

    * *
   ** **
  *** ***
 **** ****
***** *****

Submission Guidelines

• The app should be pushed to Github and a pull request should be created. You can check how to push your code to Github in section 2.1.2 Add Changes.
• The pull request title should be in the following format: <your-name> - <project-name>. You can check how to make a pull request in section 2.1.5. Create a pull request.
• The pull request description should contain the following:
  • A description of the changes made.
  • A screenshot of the app running in the terminal.