🔵 Workflow B: Apply Example Project
Learn techniques and skills using an example.
When a course includes an example project, the project is a key part of the lecture content.
⚠️ New to Terminals, Git, or Repositories?
This guide assumes you can open a terminal and run a command. If that is new to you (it often is), start with Applied Computing Foundations, a short prerequisite.
⚠️ Get Your Machine Ready First
Complete 🟢 Workflow A: Set Up Machine first. This phase requires successful completion of all those steps.
Examples are Regular GitHub Repositories
Course example repositories are complete, working professional projects on GitHub.
Run the Example, Then Explore
Clone the example repository first and get it running. That way it is ready for experiments as you start reading.
WHY?
This reflects how professionals often learn new tools and techniques: start with a working system, understand it, modify it, and adapt it to new situations.
Starting from working code makes it possible to inspect project structure, run commands, check results, and make controlled changes.
Five Phases
- Start & Run
- Read & Understand
- Take Ownership
- Make a Technical Modification
- Apply the Skills to a New Problem
Each step is critical. Follow the detailed instructions.
Verification
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I can clone, set up, and successfully run the example project on my machine.
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I can explain the purpose of the project, the main tools and techniques used, and how data flows through the program.
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I can verify the project is now mine, with my own GitHub repository, project identity, and Git history.
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I can make a technical modification, run and check the project, and push the working changes to GitHub.
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I can apply the skills and techniques from the example to a new problem or dataset, verify the results, communicate them professionally, and push the completed work to GitHub.