Learn Python by saving a world. A single-file, dependency-free text RPG that teaches real programming through an epic fantasy adventure — known in-universe as The Verdant Code.
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This README is the single source of truth for the project. Deeper material lives in
docs/and the full change history inCHANGELOG.md, but start here.
Python and Dragons is a story-driven Python learning game. You play Grixle Mossroot, a scrappy goblin druid who must master the Language of Nature (Python) to save the world of Fraylon from the Iron Wyrm and the Cult of the Dragon. Guided by the treant Elder Willowbyte, you progress from absolute beginner to Mythic Hero across 10 Acts and 181 lessons — every concept tied to a story beat, every challenge a step toward saving the world.
It is one self-contained Python file with no external dependencies — a learner can download it and run it with nothing but Python installed.
- 🎓 A real curriculum — from "what is Python?" to async, design patterns, metaclasses, and professional tooling.
- ⚔️ Wrapped in an RPG — XP, levels, hero ranks, reputation, achievements, and a complete narrative arc.
- ✅ Graded for real — every lesson ends in a scored quiz you must actually pass (see Features).
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🗺️ 181 lessons across 10 Acts | A full path from setup (Act 0) to mastery (Act IX), each with story, teaching, and a challenge. |
| ✅ Graded challenges | Every lesson ends in a 3-question quiz; you must answer a majority correctly to earn XP and advance. |
| 📖 Two play modes | Story Mode (full quest, saves progress) and Reference Mode (browse any topic freely, no saves). |
| 🧭 Skill assessment | A first-run wizard recommends your starting Act so beginners and experienced devs both start in the right place. |
| 📈 RPG progression | Earn XP (~2,000 total), climb skill levels (Novice → Legendary) and hero ranks (Unknown Wanderer → Mythic Hero of Fraylon), and build reputation. |
| 💾 Robust saves | Auto-save after each lesson plus manual save; corrupt saves recover gracefully. |
| ⚙️ Settings | Toggle hints, auto-save, and lesson-skipping, persisted to your save. |
| 🧩 Zero dependencies | Pure Python standard library; runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. |
"Young Grixle Mossroot, welcome to Mossroot Grove. The world of Fraylon is in grave danger. You must learn the Language of Nature — what mortals call 'Python' — to stop the Cult of the Dragon." — Elder Willowbyte
Your journey takes you from the Mossroot Grove through the port city of Mallport, the Library of Thorns, the Iron Sanctum, the Forge of Mastery, and finally the Master's Path — where the Iron Wyrm awaits. Each location maps to a set of Python skills, and the finale is a two-part boss battle you can only win by writing real code in your head.
The current release lives in v2.2.0/. From the repository root:
python "v2.2.0/The Verdant Code 2.2.0.py"On first run, a setup wizard runs a short skill assessment and lets you name your hero. Then you reach the main menu:
1. Story Mode (Full quest with saves)
2. Reference Mode (Browse topics, no saves)
3. Retake Skill Assessment
4. View Hero Status
5. Settings
6. Credits
7. Exit Game
A lesson plays out as: read the narrative intro → study the teaching content (examples, key concepts, common pitfalls, best practices) → answer the challenge quiz → earn XP and advance. Pass the challenge and your progress auto-saves; miss it and you can review and try again.
Requirements: Python 3.8+ (3.11+ recommended). No third-party packages — the game uses only the standard library.
# 1. Get the code
git clone https://github.com/cesiumskater/Python-and-Dragons.git
cd Python-and-Dragons
# 2. (Optional) confirm your Python version
python --version # should be 3.8 or newer
# 3. Play
python "v2.2.0/The Verdant Code 2.2.0.py"A built-in Pre-Flight Check verifies your Python version, OS, terminal, file permissions, and (optionally) Git before the game starts.
The curriculum spans 10 Acts. The skill assessment will drop you at a sensible starting point, but you can jump to any Act from Story Mode.
| Path | Acts | Focus | Lessons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 0 – II | Setup, variables, types, collections | 46 |
| Intermediate | III – V | Control flow, functions, files & exceptions | 53 |
| Advanced | VI – VII | OOP, algorithms, Big-O thinking | 32 |
| Professional | VIII | Git, testing, packaging, debugging, CI/CD | 30 |
| Master | IX | Metaclasses, async, design patterns — and the final battle | 20 |
Progression systems:
- XP — ~10 XP per lesson (with a bonus finale), ~2,000 XP total.
- Skill level (by XP): Novice → Apprentice → Adept → Expert → Master → Legendary.
- Hero rank (by reputation): Unknown Wanderer → … → Mythic Hero of Fraylon.
Story Mode keeps your progress in a JSON save file:
- File:
verdant_code_save.json, written to your current working directory. - When: automatically after each completed lesson (if auto-save is on), and on demand via Save game manually.
- What's stored: hero name, current Act, completed/skipped lessons, XP, reputation, skill level, hero rank, achievements, time played, preferences, and the game version.
- Resilience: a missing or corrupted save is detected and reset to a fresh start rather than crashing.
- Reference Mode never saves — it's a safe sandbox for browsing topics.
Save files are intentionally git-ignored (see
.gitignore), so your personal progress is never committed.
Python and Dragons evolved through three eras, growing from a 5-quest prototype into a 181-lesson learning epic. The world (Fraylon), hero (Grixle), and mentor (Elder Willowbyte) stayed consistent throughout — scope and polish are what changed.
- 🐍 Era 1 — The Serpent's Code (
v0.0.x): the origin. A single-file prototype with 5 quests and the foundational save system. - 🌿 Era 2 — The Verdant Code (
v1.1.x→v1.3.0): renamed and expanded into dual Story/Reference modes, a rich narrative, a career-prep curriculum (Acts 0, VIII, IX), and finally all 181 lessons. - ⚔️ Era 3 — Master Edition (
v2.0.0→v2.2.0): the production era — rebrand, thousands of tests, PEP 8/20 compliance, and code cleanup.
| Version | Era | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
v0.0.4 |
Serpent's Code | 5-quest prototype; world of Fraylon; save system |
v1.1.5 |
Verdant Code | Dual modes, Unicode lesson, list mini-game; 153 topics |
v1.2.0 |
Verdant Code | "Zero to Enterprise": Acts 0, VIII, IX; skill assessment |
v1.3.0 |
Verdant Code | All 181 lessons registered; Act IX finale |
v2.0.0 |
Master Edition | Rebrand; syntax fixes; production-ready |
v2.1.x |
Master Edition | Bug fixes, PEP 8/20, thousands of tests |
v2.2.0 |
Master Edition | Current — code cleanup + QA hardening |
Earlier releases are no longer kept as folders in the tree (that caused ~140 MB of duplication); each is preserved in git history and recoverable by tag or commit. See the release map and the full CHANGELOG.
Python-and-Dragons/
├── README.md # You are here — the single source of truth
├── CHANGELOG.md # Consolidated, version-by-version history
├── docs/ # Deeper documentation (see docs/README.md)
│ ├── architecture.md # how the game is built
│ ├── version-history.md # full evolution + cleanup strategy
│ └── versions.md # release → tag → commit recovery map
├── scripts/
│ └── create-release-tags.sh # publish per-release git tags / Releases
└── v2.2.0/
└── The Verdant Code 2.2.0.py # the current, runnable game (single file)
Only the current release ships in the tree. Every earlier version lives in
git history — see docs/versions.md to retrieve any of them.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CHANGELOG.md | Every notable change, version by version |
| docs/architecture.md | How the game is built (engine, lessons, Acts, modes, saves) |
| docs/version-history.md | The full evolution narrative + repo cleanup strategy |
| docs/versions.md | A map for recovering any historical version |
This is an educational project by Danny (Cesium) P. Issues and suggestions are welcome via GitHub.
To add or change a lesson, follow the Lesson pattern described in
docs/architecture.md: subclass Lesson, implement
teach() and a graded challenge(), register it in the Act registry, and keep
the Fraylon narrative voice. Please confirm the file still compiles
(python -m py_compile) and that your challenge can both pass (correct answers)
and fail (wrong answers) before submitting.
Python and Dragons has historically been described as an open-source educational
project. A formal LICENSE file has not yet been added to the repository;
until one is, please treat the code as "all rights reserved by the author" for
redistribution purposes and reach out before reusing it commercially. Adding an
explicit license is tracked as an open item in
docs/version-history.md.
Created by Danny (Cesium) P.
"In the beginning was the Code, and the Code was with Python, and the Code was Python." — Elder Willowbyte, First Treant of Mossroot Grove 🌳