Mrs. Scratcher added this page on March 14, 2025

Hello class! I prepared this bonus article that will help explain Initialization Files in Python programming!

In addition to this bonus article, you can find other bonus articles that teach you the topics I covered in Level 2: Events, Variables, Conditional Statements: If Then Else, Displaying Text, and While Loops.

An initialization file is a file that runs automatically when your program starts. It helps set things up like loading important settings, getting things ready to go, or creating starting data.

Think of it like getting ready for school in the morning. You pack your backpack, grab your lunchbox, and make sure you have everything you need before leaving the house. In coding, the initialization file helps your program “get ready” too.

Without an initialization file, your program might not know what to do first. Initialization files make sure everything is set up before the real action starts. This makes your code cleaner and easier to manage.

In Python, the most common initialization file is called __init__.py. You’ll also see __init__ used inside classes to set things up when an object is created.

Scenario: Paul Python creates a robot named Bubbles. When the robot is made, it should start with a name and a greeting message.

class Robot:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
        print("Booting up...")
        print("Hi! My name is " + self.name)

# Create the robot
my_robot = Robot("Bubbles")

Output:

Booting up...
Hi! My name is Bubbles

The __init__ method runs automatically when the object is created. It’s like the robot’s checklist before doing anything else.

Most programming languages have ways to initialize things when the program or object starts. The details look different, but the purpose is the same: get everything ready.

Python

class Character:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

Java

public class Character {
    String name;

    public Character(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
}

C#

public class Character {
    public string name;

    public Character(string name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
}

What’s the Difference?

• In Python, __init__ is a special method that sets up the object.
• In Java and C#, this is done using a constructor with the same name as the class.

Initialization files help your program get started the right way, just like your own morning routine before a big day at IncrediCoders Academy.

TBD

Next, if you need help completing your Class Introductions assignment from the book, go to Level 2: Help.

After you complete Level 2 in the book, you can take on the two extra challenges to add to your Class Introductions program and learn more! When you're done, you can move on to Level 3, the Classroom Quiz!

1. Challenge 1: Add the introduction for RAM and ROM and one for Amphib Ian, totaling 14 introductions!

2. Challenge 2: Instead of using an if/else ladder, you will put the text and images into a Python list (it's a list of variables).

In addition to this Help page and the instructions for our Level 2 challenges, we also have Online Articles, a Learning Quiz, an Unplugged Activity, and a Rewards article:

• Level 2: Online Articles - I made you a list of different web pages I found, which will help you learn more about variables, events, and if statements, in addition to what you're learning in our Class Introductions project.

• Level 2: Learning Quiz - I wrote some questions in case you want to quiz yourself about what you learned. Or you can teach others and quiz them!

• Level 2: Unplugged Activity - I wrote this page with more details than what you saw in the book. In this game, you'll have one person act as the developer, and one person act as the variable where the developer choose a noun for the variable to say in the story that they tell!

• Level 2: Rewards - If you completed the Class Introductions project that we covered in class, then I set up this page to act as a reward. You can see some illustrations of me and learn more about who I am! You'll also find the Apple Award digital download, to show off your accomplishment! Make sure you complete the Level 2 project from the book first though!

After you're completely done with Level 2 (did you do the challenges?), then it's time to move on to Level 3! While you read through Level 3 in your book, you can check out the resources from Mrs. Codala, as she teaches you how to build the Classroom Quiz program:

• Level 3: Classroom Quiz: All Online Resources

I hope you learned more about variables and lists! They are an essential part of Python programming.

-- Mrs. Scratcher