Python Fundamentals:
Unit Conversion Tool

A course-guided Python exercise used to practice core programming fundamentals and basic script extension.

Snapshot Overview

  1. 👨‍💻Context: Course-guided Python fundamentals project

  2. 🔨Tools: Python (command line / Jupyter)

  3. 🔢 Core Concepts: Conditional logic, user input, numeric operations

  4. 📊Original Scope: Inches, feet, yards

  5. 👥Personal Extension: Added support for miles in the conversion tool

  6. 🎯Purpose: Demonstrate foundational Python comprehension and control flow

Learning Context

This project was completed as part of a Python fundamentals course, where I followed a guided walkthrough to build a working command-line unit conversion script. The exercise focused on practicing Python syntax, conditional logic, and basic arithmetic operations.

While the core structure followed the course design, I used this project as an opportunity to solidify my understanding of how the code works and to make a small functional extension.

The Objective

The objective of this project was not to design a complex system, but to:

  • Practice reading and writing Python syntax

  • Understand how conditional logic routes user input

  • Apply numeric operations to real-world measurements

  • Make a small, intentional extension to existing code

My Contribution

After completing the guided portion of the project, I extended the script by adding miles as an additional conversion option.

This required:

  • Understanding how existing unit logic was structured

  • Adding new conditional branches for mile-based conversions

  • Applying appropriate conversion factors

  • Ensuring output formatting remained consistent with the rest of the script

I also adjusted numeric handling to support decimal-based inputs and standardized output formatting by rounding results to three decimal places.

How the Script Works

The script:

  1. Prompts the user to select a starting unit and a target unit

  2. Requests a numeric measurement based on the starting unit

  3. Uses conditional logic (if / elif / else) to determine the correct conversion

  4. Performs the calculation and prints a formatted result

This structure mirrors common patterns used in data scripts and automation tasks.

Python Concepts Demonstrated

  • Conditional logic: Routing program flow based on user input

  • User input handling: Collecting and converting input values

  • Data types: Using floating-point numbers for realistic measurements

  • Arithmetic operations: Applying conversion factors accurately

  • Code comprehension: Reading, modifying, and extending existing Python logic

Key Takeaways

This project helped reinforce that:

  • Scripts benefit from careful handling of numeric precision and output formatting

  • Reading and modifying existing code is a valuable skill in real-world workflows

  • Even modest extensions require thoughtful logic and thorough testing

Reflection & Next Steps

This project represents an early step in my Python learning process. As my skills grow, future improvements could include:

  • Refactoring repeated logic into functions

  • Using a lookup table or dictionary for unit conversions

  • Adding loops to support multiple conversions per session

  • Implementing more robust input validation.