Chapter 1: The Power of Automation

In today's rapidly evolving environment, automating repetitive tasks can significantly enhance productivity. By utilizing Python, a highly adaptable and approachable programming language, I've optimized numerous elements of my everyday life. This guide introduces you to 101 practical Python scripts aimed at automating daily tasks, allowing you to reclaim precious time and concentrate on what truly counts.

Start Automating Your Life Using Python! (File Management with Python Tutorial)

Section 1.1: Renaming Files in a Directory

Effortlessly rename files within a directory using the script below:

import os

def rename_files(directory, prefix):

for count, filename in enumerate(os.listdir(directory)):

new_name = f"{prefix}_{count}.txt"

os.rename(os.path.join(directory, filename), os.path.join(directory, new_name))

rename_files('/path/to/your/directory', 'file')

Section 1.2: Sending Automated Emails

Implement the following script to send automated emails:

import smtplib

from email.mime.text import MIMEText

from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart

def send_email(subject, body, to_email):

from_email = '[email protected]'

password = 'your_password'

msg = MIMEMultipart()

msg['From'] = from_email

msg['To'] = to_email

msg['Subject'] = subject

msg.attach(MIMEText(body, 'plain'))

with smtplib.SMTP('smtp.example.com', 587) as server:

server.starttls()

server.login(from_email, password)

server.sendmail(from_email, to_email, msg.as_string())

send_email('Test Subject', 'This is a test email', '[email protected]')

Section 1.3: Backing Up Files

Automatically create backups of your files to a designated directory:

import shutil

import os

def backup_files(source_dir, backup_dir):

for filename in os.listdir(source_dir):

shutil.copy(os.path.join(source_dir, filename), backup_dir)

backup_files('/path/to/source_dir', '/path/to/backup_dir')

Section 1.4: Web Scraping for Latest News

Extract the most recent news headlines from a website:

import requests

from bs4 import BeautifulSoup

def get_latest_news(url):

response = requests.get(url)

soup = BeautifulSoup(response.text, 'html.parser')

headlines = [item.text for item in soup.find_all('h2')]

return headlines

for item in news:

print(item)

Section 1.5: Automating Social Media Posts

Schedule and publish updates to your Twitter account:

import tweepy

def post_tweet(message):

consumer_key = 'your_consumer_key'

consumer_secret = 'your_consumer_secret'

access_token = 'your_access_token'

access_token_secret = 'your_access_token_secret'

auth = tweepy.OAuth1UserHandler(consumer_key, consumer_secret, access_token, access_token_secret)

api = tweepy.API(auth)

api.update_status(message)

post_tweet('Automating my life with Python!')

Section 1.6: Generating Daily Reports

Create and save daily reports in a CSV format:

import csv

from datetime import datetime

def generate_report(data, filename):

with open(filename, mode='w', newline='') as file:

writer = csv.writer(file)

writer.writerow(['Date', 'Data'])

for item in data:

writer.writerow([datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d'), item])

generate_report(['data1', 'data2', 'data3'], 'daily_report.csv')

Section 1.7: Handling Calendar Events

Automatically add events to your Google Calendar:

from googleapiclient.discovery import build

from google.oauth2 import service_account

def add_event_to_calendar(summary, start_time, end_time):

SCOPES = ['']

SERVICE_ACCOUNT_FILE = 'path/to/service.json'

credentials = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(

SERVICE_ACCOUNT_FILE, scopes=SCOPES)

service = build('calendar', 'v3', credentials=credentials)

event = {

'summary': summary,

'start': {

'dateTime': start_time,

'timeZone': 'America/Los_Angeles',

},

'end': {

'dateTime': end_time,

'timeZone': 'America/Los_Angeles',

},

}

event = service.events().insert(calendarId='primary', body=event).execute()

print(f'Event created: {event.get("htmlLink")}')

add_event_to_calendar('Meeting', '2024-09-01T10:00:00', '2024-09-01T11:00:00')

Section 1.8: Monitoring Website Changes

Check for updates on a website:

import hashlib

import requests

def check_website_change(url, old_hash):

response = requests.get(url)

current_hash = hashlib.md5(response.text.encode()).hexdigest()

return current_hash != old_hash

old_hash = 'previous_hash_value'

if check_website_change(url, old_hash):

print('Website has changed!')

Section 1.9: Setting Up Reminders

Send email reminders at specific intervals:

import time

import smtplib

from email.mime.text import MIMEText

def send_reminder(email, subject, body):

msg = MIMEText(body)

msg['Subject'] = subject

msg['From'] = '[email protected]'

msg['To'] = email

with smtplib.SMTP('smtp.example.com', 587) as server:

server.starttls()

server.login('[email protected]', 'your_password')

server.send_message(msg)

def schedule_reminder(email, subject, body, interval):

time.sleep(interval)

send_reminder(email, subject, body)

schedule_reminder('[email protected]', 'Reminder', 'This is your scheduled reminder.', 3600)

Section 1.10: Cleaning Up Disk Space

Identify and remove large files to free up disk space:

import os

def clean_disk_space(directory, size_limit):

for filename in os.listdir(directory):

filepath = os.path.join(directory, filename)

if os.path.isfile(filepath) and os.path.getsize(filepath) > size_limit:

os.remove(filepath)

print(f"Deleted {filename}")

clean_disk_space('/path/to/directory', 10000000) # Files larger than 10MB

By automating these tasks, you can significantly enhance your daily routine, alleviate stress, and allocate more time for the activities you love. Python's straightforwardness and robust capabilities make it an ideal tool for achieving these efficiencies. Happy coding!

Chapter 2: Advanced Automation Techniques

Automating My Life with Python: The Ultimate Guide | Code With Me