Design and implement a desktop application for managing a small digital library (books, members, and loans) with a Tkinter UI, clean OOP architecture, encapsulation/abstraction, inheritance, file handling, and a professional project layout. Students will practice advanced Python and software engineering skills and ship a usable app.
OOP: domain model with rich objects and behaviors.
Encapsulation : private attributes, properties, invariants, validation.
Abstraction : abstract base classes (ABC) for Item, repository interfaces.
Inheritance : Book, Magazine, DVD inherit from Item.
Methods : instance, @classmethod, @staticmethod, property methods, magic methods (repr, eq, ordering), and descriptor example.
Parameters : class vars vs instance vars, default/keyword-only, *args/**kwargs, positional-only, typed fields.
File Handling: JSON/CSV import-export, logging, config .ini, simple persistence layer.
Best Practices: typing, docstrings, exceptions, SOLID, service layer, repositories, unit tests, code style, small PRs.
Tkinter UI: basic CRUD, search, and loan workflow.
Item Abstraction & Inheritance
Item (ABC): id, title, year, is_available(); encapsulate _available with a property.
Subclasses: Book(isbn, author), Magazine(issue), DVD(duration_minutes).
Demonstrate polymorphism: LibraryService.search_items() returns mixed Item types.
Member & Loan
Member: private _loans, rule: max concurrent loans (e.g., 5). Use property & methods to enforce invariants.
Loan: ties an Item to Member, start_date, due_date, returned_at; implement is_overdue().
Methods & Parameters
@classmethod factories: Book.from_dict(), Member.from_csv_row().
@staticmethod utilities: validators.is_valid_isbn().
Dunder: repr, hash/eq (by id), optional ordering by title.
Parameter styles: keyword-only for clarity; demonstrate *, limit=10, and positional-only for internal APIs.
Encapsulation Examples
Private fields _available, _loans_count; expose via @property with validation.
Descriptor PositiveInt for year or duration_minutes.
JsonRepository: save/load LibraryState to data/library.json.
CsvImporter: seed from data/sample_books.csv, export reports.
config.ini or environment via config.py.
logging to logs/app.log with rotation.
Main window: menu (File/Import CSV, Export JSON, Exit), tabs: Catalog, Members, Loans.
Catalog tab: listbox/treeview of items, filter/search entry, Add/Edit/Delete dialogs.
Members tab: CRUD for members; show current loans.
Loans tab: select member & item, Checkout / Return buttons; due-date calculation.
OOP & Design (25): clean models, ABCs, proper inheritance & polymorphism.
Encapsulation & Validation (10): properties, invariants, descriptor use.
Methods & Parameters (10): diverse method types and parameter styles.
File Handling & Persistence (15): JSON/CSV, logging, robust error handling.
Best Practices (15): typing, docstrings, tests, exceptions, SOLID.
Project Structure & Git (10): src/ layout, meaningful commits, PRs.
UI Functionality (15): Tkinter tabs, CRUD, loan workflow.
M1 – Domain Models & Tests (models only, no I/O)
M2 – Repositories & Seed Scripts (JSON/CSV)
M3 – Service Layer & Use Cases (checkout/return/search)
M4 – Tkinter MVP (Catalog/Members/Loans tabs)
M5 – Polish & Reports (logging, exports, UI tweaks)
Tasks
Implement Magazine/DVD, Member rules, and loan workflow.
Add CSV import/export.
Add logging and error handling.
Write unit tests for models, repo, service.
Polish UI: Members/Loans tabs, returns, overdue highlight.
- Bookstore (with pricing & sales receipts)
- Video Rental (late fees & durations)
- Research Archive (PDF attachments & tags)
- Search by multiple fields and filters.
- Overdue report CSV.
- Theming & dark mode.
- Strategy pattern for fee calculation.
- Plug-in repo: swap JSON with SQLite adapter.
- Passes tests:
pytest -q READMEshows screenshots & instructions- Clean commit history and PR description
- Lint and type check (optional:
ruff,mypy)
- Encourage TDD for models (M1).
- Enforce reviews: at least one PR review before merge.
- Ask for a short
docs/architecture.mdexplaining design trade-offs.
Build a Tkinter desktop app to manage books, members, and loans with solid OOP.
python -m pip install -r requirements.txt # optional
python -m library_manager.ui.app