To-Do List CLI App in Python Project – Full Guide

Description

📘 Project Title

To-Do List CLI App in Python

📄 Project Description

The To-Do List CLI App is a command-line interface (CLI) application that allows users to add, view, complete, and delete tasks. Tasks are stored persistently in a local file, so they remain available between runs. The project is designed for learners who want to build real-world Python utilities that run directly in the terminal.

This app emphasizes basic CRUD operations, file I/O, error handling, and user interaction — all essential skills for Python developers.

🚀 Key Features

✅ Task Management

• Add a new task 
• View the list of all tasks 
• Mark tasks as completed 
• Delete tasks 

📁 Persistent Storage

• Saves tasks to a local text file (todo.txt or tasks.json) 
• Automatically loads tasks on app start 

🧑‍💻 Simple User Interface

• Menu-driven interface using terminal prompts 
• Easy keyboard input to navigate actions 

⚙️ Error Handling

• Handles: 
  • Invalid input 
  • Non-existent task numbers 
  • Empty task list 

📂 Example CLI Output

Bash:

========= TO-DO LIST =========

1. [ ] Buy groceries
2. [x] Pay electricity bill
3. [ ] Walk the dog

 

Select an option:

1. Add Task
2. Mark Task as Completed
3. Delete Task
4. View Tasks
5. Exit

📦 Technologies Used

• Python 3 
• os (optional for clearing terminal) 
• json (for storing tasks in a structured format) 
• datetime (optional: for timestamps) 

🧠 Learning Outcomes

By building this project, you will learn how to:

✅ Build terminal-based Python apps

✅ Use CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

✅ Store and retrieve data with files

✅ Handle user input and input validation

✅ Display formatted lists in the CLI

✅ Use functions and modularize code

🛠️ Possible Extensions

You can take this further by adding:

• Due dates and reminders 
• Task priorities (high/medium/low) 
• Colored CLI output (with colorama or rich) 
• Search/filter functionality 
• A JSON or SQLite database backend 
• Package it as a Python CLI tool using argparse or click 

✅ Summary

• Ideal for learning fundamentals of Python programming 
• A fully working utility app in your terminal 
• Offers a hands-on approach to: 
  • Data persistence 
  • CLI interaction 

Program structure