Advanced Skill Test: Python Professional Level 1 (PCPP1™)

The PCPP1™ certification is one of the two professional-level certifications offered by the Python Institute. It focuses on testing candidates’ knowledge of Python at an advanced level, covering topics such as Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), file processing, multithreading, database interactions, and more. This course will guide you through the essential concepts required to pass the PCPP1™ exam and to write professional-grade Python code in real-world scenarios.

Course Structure

The course is structured into modules that progressively build on each other. Starting with the fundamentals of advanced Python, you will explore in-depth topics such as OOP, threading, multiprocessing, and testing, followed by hands-on projects and coding exercises. Each module is designed to provide a balanced combination of theory and practical coding experience, ensuring you fully grasp advanced Python concepts.

What You Will Learn

1. Advanced Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
   Object-Oriented Programming is a core pillar of Python, and mastering OOP is essential for writing maintainable and scalable code. In this course, you’ll learn to:
   • Implement advanced OOP concepts, such as inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.
   • Use abstract base classes (ABC) and multiple inheritance.
   • Understand metaclasses and how to create custom class behaviors.
   • Overload operators and implement magic methods like __init__, __str__, and __repr__.
2. GUI Programming with Tkinter
   Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) make applications user-friendly and interactive. You’ll learn to use Tkinter, Python’s standard GUI library, to:
   • Build user interfaces with buttons, labels, textboxes, and more.
   • Handle events such as mouse clicks and key presses.
   • Customize the appearance of your GUI applications with themes and styles.
   • Create dialog boxes, windows, and menus for more interactive experiences.
3. File Processing and Data Manipulation
   Reading and processing data from files is a fundamental skill for any Python developer. This module will teach you:
   • How to read and write files in different formats (CSV, JSON, XML).
   • How to parse structured data and handle large data sets efficiently.
   • The use of context managers (with statements) for safe file handling.
   • Techniques for handling binary data and working with file streams.
4. Multithreading and Multiprocessing
   For high-performance applications, it’s often necessary to run multiple tasks simultaneously. You’ll explore:
   • The basics of multithreading and how to manage threads in Python.
   • How to synchronize threads and handle race conditions with locks and semaphores.
   • The multiprocessing module to take full advantage of multiple CPU cores.
   • The use of queues and pipes for communication between processes.
5. Testing and Test-Driven Development (TDD)
   Testing is essential for ensuring that your code works as expected. In this course, you will:
   • Learn how to write effective unit tests using Python’s unittest framework.
   • Explore test-driven development (TDD) techniques to write tests before code.
   • Use the pytest module for more advanced testing features, such as parameterized tests and fixtures.
   • Learn how to mock objects and external services to isolate your tests.
6. Best Practices for Writing Clean, Efficient Python Code
   Writing maintainable and efficient code is a key aspect of professional programming. You will learn:
   • Python’s PEP 8 coding conventions for readability and consistency.
   • How to profile your code and optimize performance.
   • Common design patterns like Singleton, Factory, and Observer and how to implement them in Python.
   • How to write clean, readable code using meaningful variable names, comments, and docstrings.
7. Working with Databases
   Data storage is an essential part of most applications. This course will teach you:
   • How to connect to relational databases using Python’s sqlite3 module.
   • How to interact with databases, perform SQL queries, and handle results.
   • Basics of working with NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, for scalable data storage.
8. Advanced Python Libraries and Modules
   Python’s standard library is vast and powerful, and in this course, you’ll explore advanced modules like:
   • Regular Expressions (re) for pattern matching and text processing.
   • Datetime for handling date and time-related data and working with time zones.
   • Socket Programming for creating networking applications and handling protocols.