Project: Blackjack
This project will take you off-platform and get you started in your own developer environment! Never done that before? Not to worry - we’ve shared some resources to help you down below. This project can be completed entirely on your own - or, you can join our Community on Discord and find someone to work with! Jump to the community support section to hear more about this.
The project is broken down into a set of user stories for you to follow. User stories are likely something you will see more and more of as you progress in your journey as a developer. They are short, simple descriptions of a feature told from the perspective of the individual using that feature. The goal of each user story is to describe to you, the developer, what the feature or application needs to do, while providing you with enough flexibility to determine the best way to make that happen.
Overview
Objective
Build a console application that allows the user to play blackjack versus a computer dealer.
Pre-requisites
In order to complete this project, we suggest that you have familiarity with the content in the following courses or lessons from the Codecademy Computer Science Path:
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Milestone 1
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Milestone 2
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Milestone 3
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Milestone 5
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Milestone 7
Suggested Technologies
Depending on where you are on your Path, there may be multiple technology options you can use to complete this project - we suggest the following:
- Python
- Command Line
Project Tasks
Get started - setting up your project
Since you won’t be completing this project in the Codecademy learning environment, you’ll need to find somewhere else to host your project! We’ve listed our recommendations below. For additional set-up information and guidance, please refer to the general resources section below.
- Repl.it: If you’re not quite ready to get into all of the nitty gritty details of setting up your own local developer environment, Repl.it is an amazing online tool that can help you spin one up a web-based development environment with the click of a button. For this project, you’ll need a Repl.it environment that supports Python.
- Visual Studio Code: If you’re excited & ready to set-up your own local environment, we’ve got your back too. Visual Studio Code is a popular open source text editor that you will set-up & configure on your own device and can be used to develop websites and applications locally before pushing to production.
Basic Requirements
User Story: As a user I want to clearly see the cards dealt to me and to the dealer.
User Story: As a user I want to be able to choose to stay.
User Story: As a user I want to be able to choose to hit until I choose to stay or until I bust.
User Story: As a user I want to clearly see the sequence of moves made by the dealer.
User Story: As a user I want to clearly see who won and why.
User Story: As a user I want to be able to quit the game or go again after each cycle.
Additional Challenges
Intermediate Challenge
User Story: As a user I want the game to incorporate a virtual chip/currency system to simulate real-life staking mechanics.
User Story: As a user I want to clearly see my chip stack, as well as that of the dealer.
User Story: As a user I want to be able to vary my bet according to the min/max betting rules.
Advanced Challenge
User Story: As a user I want to be able to choose to split my hand whenever possible.
User Story: As a user I want to be able to choose to double down whenever possible.
Resources & Support
Project-specific resources
- Blackjack
- Python random module
- Python lists
- Python dictionaries
- Python classes
- Command line glossary
- Python documentation
General Resources
- How to get set-up for coding on your computer
- What you need to know about Git, GitHub & Coding in Teams
- How developer teams work
- First steps in tackling a group project
- Resource on writing pseudocode to get started with off-platform projects
- Video on how to use Chrome dev tools
Community Support
Looking for additional help or someone to work with (or somewhere to brag about your finished project)? Join our Community on Discord to meet other learners like yourself!
Once you’re done…
Share in the Forums for feedback and to see some other ways of solving this problem!