Index Ai Academy
Phase 0 of 12 · about 12 hours of study

Tools

Python, the terminal and calling APIs. 24 lessons, about 12 hours of study, in four tracks. All of them are free to try without an account.

Start with Your first program Create a free account

What you'll learn

Python core · 13 lessons, about 6 hours

  1. Your first program FreeRun Python, print output, and read an error message without panicking.
  2. Variables FreeGive values names so your program can remember and reuse them.
  3. Numbers and arithmetic FreeIntegers, decimals, rounding, and the math behind every metric.
  4. Strings and f-strings FreeWork with text: join it, slice it, clean it, and format it.
  5. Decisions with if/else FreeCompare values and choose what happens next.
  6. Lists FreeKeep many values in order, then index, slice and change them.
  7. Loops FreeRepeat work over every item without copy-pasting code.
  8. Dictionaries FreeLook values up by name: the shape of almost all real-world data.
  9. Functions FreePackage steps into reusable, testable pieces with inputs and outputs.
  10. Comprehensions FreeFilter and transform a whole collection in one readable line.
  11. Errors and exceptions FreeRead tracebacks, and handle the failures you expect.
  12. Modules and imports FreeUse Python's standard library instead of reinventing it.
  13. Classes and objects FreeBundle data with the functions that work on it.

Working with data · 3 lessons, about 1.5 hours

  1. JSON FreeThe text format APIs and LLMs use to exchange structured data.
  2. Files and CSV data FreeRead and write files, and turn a spreadsheet export into Python data.
  3. NumPy arrays FreeDo math on whole columns at once, the foundation of every ML library.

Developer tools · 3 lessons, about 1.5 hours

  1. The terminal FreeNavigate folders and run programs by typing commands.
  2. Version control with git FreeSave snapshots of your work, undo mistakes, and share code.
  3. Packages and environments FreeInstall libraries with pip and keep projects isolated with venv.

Talking to APIs · 5 lessons, about 3 hours

  1. How APIs work FreeRequests, responses, methods, status codes and headers.
  2. Calling APIs from Python FreeSend requests, read JSON responses, and handle failures.
  3. API keys and secrets FreeAuthenticate safely and keep keys out of your code.
  4. Your first LLM call FreeSend messages to a model and read its reply, tokens and stop reason.
  5. Capstone: ad-copy reviewer FreeCombine files, functions, JSON and an LLM call into one small tool.

Before you start

Nothing. This phase starts from your very first line of Python, and every lesson in it is free to try. Already know some? The placement test marks off what you know, so you only study what's new to you.

What you'll build

Ad-copy reviewer Free

Combine files, functions, JSON and an LLM call into one small tool. Read the tutorial.

  • Break a real task into load, check, report and generate steps
  • Write rule checks as small functions that return a list of problems
  • Save results as a JSON report other tools can read

When you finish

Finish every lesson in this phase, or show you know it in the placement test, and you earn a certificate of completion, "Tools (Phase 0)", with its own link you can share.