Python Data Shell

A terminal application for managing courses, trainers, students, and assignments, built with Python and Rich.

Features

• Colored banner and interactive menu
• Record counters for each category
• Tables for wide terminals and cards for narrow terminals
• Input validation for required fields, dates, fees, and marks
• Case-insensitive search across all records
• Automatic local JSON storage
• Form cancellation with /cancel

Requirements

• Python 3.10 or newer
• pip
• Git, if cloning the repository

An internet connection is needed to download the project and install dependencies. Once installed, the application runs locally.

Download the project

Run these commands in PowerShell on Windows or Terminal on Linux/macOS:

git clone https://github.com/sakispat/python_data_shell.git
cd python_data_shell

Alternatively, download the ZIP from GitHub using Code → Download ZIP, extract it, and open a terminal in the folder containing app.py.

If you already have the project locally, open its existing folder.

Windows installation

Check your Python version:

py --version

Create a virtual environment:

py -m venv .venv

Install dependencies:

.\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install -r requirements.txt

Run the application:

.\.venv\Scripts\python.exe app.py

These commands do not require virtual-environment activation or changes to the PowerShell execution policy.

If py is unavailable but python points to Python 3.10 or newer, use python instead of py to create the environment.

Linux installation

Check your Python version:

python3 --version

Create a virtual environment:

python3 -m venv .venv

Install dependencies:

.venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

Run the application:

.venv/bin/python app.py

If creating the virtual environment fails because venv or ensurepip is missing, install your distribution's venv support package for the selected Python version, then retry.

Use the virtual environment for dependencies; do not install them with sudo pip.

macOS installation

Check your Python version:

python3 --version

If Python is missing or older than 3.10, install a supported Python 3 release from https://www.python.org/downloads/macos/ and reopen Terminal.

Create a virtual environment:

python3 -m venv .venv

Install dependencies:

.venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

Run the application:

.venv/bin/python app.py

Run the project again

Open a terminal in the project folder and run the command for your OS.

Windows:

.\.venv\Scripts\python.exe app.py

Linux / macOS:

.venv/bin/python app.py

You do not need to recreate the virtual environment each time. Reinstall dependencies when requirements.txt changes.

Usage

Option	Action
1	Add a course
2	Add a trainer
3	Add a student
4	Add an assignment
5	View all records
6	Search records
0	Exit

Type /cancel while filling in a form to return to the main menu.

Pressing Ctrl+C exits the application. Any unfinished entry is discarded; previously saved records remain available.

Input rules

• Required text fields cannot be blank.
• Dates must use YYYY-MM-DD.
• Birth dates cannot be in the future.
• Study mode must be full-time or part-time.
• Tuition fees must be nonnegative amounts, not installment counts.
• Use a decimal point for amounts, for example 1500.50.
• Written and oral marks must be between 0 and 100.
• The average is calculated without rounding down.
• The original pass rule is preserved: average must be greater than 50.

Data storage

Completed entries are saved automatically in:

data/records.json

The path is relative to the application folder, regardless of the directory from which you launch Python.

The application creates the data folder when saving the first entry. Records are loaded again on the next startup.

To use a different data file:

Windows:

.\.venv\Scripts\python.exe app.py --data-file "data/demo.json"

Linux / macOS:

.venv/bin/python app.py --data-file "data/demo.json"

Use only one running application instance per data file.

Data is stored as plain JSON and is not encrypted. Keep backups of your data folder. The default data/ folder is excluded from Git.

If the existing data file is malformed, startup stops without overwriting it.

Project structure

File	Responsibility
app.py	Menu, forms, and application flow
ui.py	Banner, colors, tables, and cards
validators.py	Input validation and grade calculation
storage.py	JSON loading, structure validation, and saving
requirements.txt	Application dependencies
tests/test_app.py	Automated tests
.gitignore	Files excluded from Git

Run tests

Run the following command from the project folder.

Windows:

.\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m unittest discover -s tests -v

Linux / macOS:

.venv/bin/python -m unittest discover -s tests -v

Tests cover input validation, grade calculation, persistent storage, failed saves, and application flows.

Troubleshooting

Python command not found

Install Python 3.10 or newer and reopen your terminal.

On Windows, try py --version. On Linux/macOS, try python3 --version.

No module named rich

Install dependencies with the same virtual-environment interpreter used to run the application. Follow the installation command for your OS.

Cannot find app.py or requirements.txt

Navigate to the project folder before running the commands.

Cannot load data

Read the error message and check the data file's permissions and content. If it is damaged, preserve a copy and restore a valid backup.

Entry NOT saved

Check available disk space and write permissions. After fixing the issue, enter the record again.

Current scope

Records are stored independently. Course enrollment relationships, editing, deletion, and installment tracking are not implemented in this version.