How Python Helps You Land a Python Developer Job Faster

words = open("log.txt").read().split()
counts = {}
for i in range(len(words)):
    w = words[i].lower()
    if w in counts:
        counts[w] = counts[w] + 1
    else:
        counts[w] = 1
top = sorted(counts.items(), key=lambda kv: kv[1], reverse=True)[:5]
print(top)

from collections import Counter

with open("log.txt", encoding="utf-8") as f:
    counts = Counter(word.lower() for word in f.read().split())

print(counts.most_common(5))

import logging
from dataclasses import dataclass

logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

@dataclass
class Order:
    id: int
    amount: float

def apply_discount(order: Order, percent: float) -> Order:
    if not 0 <= percent <= 50:
        logger.warning("Rejected discount %.1f%% for order %d", percent, order.id)
        raise ValueError("discount must be between 0 and 50")
    new_amount = round(order.amount * (1 - percent / 100), 2)
    logger.info("Order %d discounted to %.2f", order.id, new_amount)
    return Order(order.id, new_amount)

# pyproject.toml
[project]
name = "orders"
version = "0.1.0"
requires-python = ">=3.10"
dependencies = []

[project.optional-dependencies]
dev = ["pytest"]

# tests/test_discount.py
import pytest
from orders.discount import Order, apply_discount

def test_discount_applied():
    assert apply_discount(Order(1, 1000.0), 10).amount == 900.0

def test_discount_out_of_range():
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        apply_discount(Order(1, 1000.0), 80)

def two_sum(nums: list[int], target: int) -> tuple[int, int] | None:
    """Return indices of two numbers adding to target, in O(n) time."""
    seen: dict[int, int] = {}
    for i, n in enumerate(nums):
        need = target - n
        if need in seen:
            return seen[need], i
        seen[n] = i
    return None

print(two_sum([2, 7, 11, 15], 9))   # (0, 1)

How to explain the two-sum solution:
1. Brute force checks every pair: O(n^2)
2. Instead, store numbers already seen in a dict
   (value -> index)
3. For each number, check if target - number is in
   the dict: O(1) average lookup
4. Total time O(n), extra space O(n)
5. Edge cases: no answer, duplicates, negative numbers

Weeks 1-2: Idioms — refactor 10 old scripts
Weeks 3-4: Tests + type hints in one project; add CI
Weeks 5-6: Build an API or CLI tool, packaged with
           pyproject.toml and a clear README
Weeks 7-8: 40 interview problems in Python, explained
           aloud; 3 mock interviews

[ ] 2-3 projects with tests and CI badge
[ ] Type hints on public functions
[ ] pyproject.toml or requirements.txt
[ ] Logging instead of print in app code
[ ] README: what, why, how to run, how to test
[ ] No secrets committed

- Built a FastAPI service with typed models, pytest
  coverage of core rules and GitHub Actions CI
- Refactored a legacy script into a packaged CLI tool
  with logging and configuration via environment variables