Python Basics: Functions and Loops (Quiz)

Vamos bien.

This is a continuation of my learning path. I wanted to start with the Basics Course to see where I am at. This Functions and Loops course was very good. It was easy to understand, and using IDLE. Is there any exercises for this course like there was with the Numbers course? Also, this is a problem I’ve had from the beginning on the IDLE. Experimenting and following the course uses a lot of window space. Right now to get a clear screen I’ve been exiting IDLE and re-entering it. Is there an easier way to clear the screen?

Hi @ajackson54, yes we do have an exercises course also for this course, if you keep moving through the Python Basics Learning Path, then you’ll get to it next: Exercises: Functions & Loops.

Clearing IDLE’s Screen

I have a solution for clearing the screen in IDLE, but it’s quite hacky… You could create a Python file, name it clear_screen.py, and save it in your Documents/ folder, which should make it available as a module to import for the IDLE shell:

import os
import sys

def clear():
    if "idlelib" in sys.modules:
        # Print smaller chunks to avoid "Squeezed text" message
        for _ in range(20):
            print("\n" * 5)
    else:
        os.system('cls' if os.name == 'nt' else 'clear')

Then, you can start the shell and import and run the function:

>>> from clear_screen import clear
>>> clear()

That should present you with a clean screen in IDLE. Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward solution for achieving this that I know of.

You may want to look into using a different code editor, such as VS Code or Thonny for more convenience in the built-in REPL. Or, you could start the Python REPL from your terminal program, which usually include a way to clear the screen with a keyboard shortcut.

Thank you for your solution, Martin. I haven’t tried it yet but I will after I solve my new problem. I finished the Functions and Loops course and I got a check mark on every lesson except the quiz. I checked my certificate and it said 85% complete. I returned to the course and it said resume and then it brought me back to the quiz which I had already completed. I did it again, anyway, but still I couldn’t get the check mark and I’m still only 85% completed.

@ajackson54 there’s a button towards the top, close to the title of the resource, where you can mark the quiz as completed. That’ll update the completion percentage.

Hello, I was happy to complete this course although i could not see the fireworks i expected after completion ;-) More seriously, i learnt about the docstring .. does this feature work only on idl ? I find it nice to have a way to provide explanations on the meaning of a user defined function.

@emmanuel docstrings are a general Python feature and work everywhere, not just in IDLE.

You can always view the docstrings of an object using help() or .__doc__:

>>> def example_function():
...     """This is a docstring."""
...     pass

>>> help(example_function)
Help on function example_function in module __main__:

example_function()
    This is a docstring

>>> example_function.__doc__
'This is a docstring.'