Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • Cloud
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Adding Logging to a Python Application

Logging is a powerful tool. It can be used for many different functions. For example, it can used in a legal situation as evidence for who has done what while using the application. It can be used to rebuild a database if the database is destroyed without a viable backup. It can also help a developer track down elusive errors when an application has gone to production. You will need basic Python programming and SQL skills for this lab: - [Certified Associate in Python Programming Certification](https://linuxacademy.com/cp/modules/view/id/470)

Google Cloud Platform icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 29, 2025
Duration
1h 0m

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.
Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Add Logging to tally.py

    You should add logging to tally.py. Create a separate log file for each item. The file should be named <item-number>.log. The log level should be info and each log message should be date:level:message. Finally, log the final tally message.

    tally.py:

    import logging
    
    def tally_votes(data):
        """
        the example voting data and operations are in the __main__ section
        write code that will ask for user input for item number being voted on
        create a log file named <voting item>.log
        tally votes and log each vote
        using: tally = f"Item: {voting_item} Yes: {yes} No: {no}"
        return tally
        """
        voting_item = input("What is the item number for this vote? ").strip()
        file_name = f"{voting_item}.log"
    
        logging.basicConfig(
            filename=file_name,
            format='%(asctime)s:%(levelname)s:%(message)s', level=logging.INFO)
    
        yes = 0
        no = 0
        for vote in data:
            if vote == 'y':
                yes += 1
            else:
                no += 1
            # log vote
            logging.info(vote)
    
        tally = f"Item: {voting_item} Yes: {yes} No: {no}"
    
        logging.info(tally)
    
        return tally
    
    if __name__ == "__main__":
        voting_data = ["y", "n", "y", "y", "y", "n"]
        tally = tally_votes(voting_data)
        print(tally)
    
  2. Challenge

    Review the Log File

    Review the log file using cat <logfile> (replacing <logfile> with whatever the file is called).

    Congratulations! You have shown that you can do basic logging.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

Get started with Pluralsight