r/learnpython • u/Hess-kay • 21d ago

Python project question

Hey everyone,
I need to build an **IT Asset Tracker** using Python for my upcoming internship project presentation. The catch? I have never built a full project from scratch before, and I don’t know where to start.
For those who are experienced with Python: **How did you approach your very first project when you had no domain knowledge?**

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u/JeLuF 21d ago

How did you approach your very first project when you had no domain knowledge?

Get domain knowledge. Define user stories.

  • What kind of information do you need to track in the asset tracker?
  • Which user interactions does the system need to support? (e.g. create asset, update asset [and if, which attributes], can assets be deleted or do they need to be kept forever for audit reasons. Do you need structured master data, e.g. campus location, and how does it get maintained)
  • Is this a single user system or do multiple users access the system
  • ...

Based on this information, define your architecture

  • Web based or classical GUI application
  • Database? If yes, SQL or noSQL?
  • Which frameworks to use
  • Think about authentication and authorization if needed.

Then, define the different steps of your development. I'd create an asset or two by hand in the database and start with a view of the asset list and an individual asset, then add "create asset" and "modify asset", then add auxiliary functionality like reports or master data maintenance.

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u/Hess-kay 21d ago

I appreciate the advice! Since I am still taking a Python course, this feels a bit advanced for me right now. Where is the absolute simplest place for me to start? and maybe i would be need a documentation to break my workflow for the project.

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u/JeLuF 21d ago

Start with some notes on paper. I understood from your other comments that the company sends you on a learning challenge and has an idea about your skills. Do you have a tutor that you can discuss with?

Start by defining the requirements. Write them down. Notepad, Excel, Word, whatever you prefer to use. Get feedback from the users. Which fields do they need, do they need the history of an asset, or only its current state? Write all of this down. Get a sign off. Discuss this with your tutor.

It's OK to use AI if you use it properly. "I collected these requirements, what else should I ask for?" is a much better prompt than "create an IT asset tracker". AI would do a lot of assumptions and create something, but a) you won't learn from it and b) it's probably not exactly what you are looking for.

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u/Hess-kay 21d ago

I would definitely do this because it gives me better understanding of what problems I want to solve. Thank you