🌐 API Projects — Python & FastAPI Learning Journey

A hands-on collection of Python programs demonstrating how to consume REST APIs, work with real-world data, and build APIs using FastAPI — from beginner to practical level.

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📁 Project Structure

api-projects/
│
├── real-time-currency-converter.py   # Live forex rates using ExchangeRate API
├── connect-api-using-python.py       # Pokémon data via PokéAPI
├── making-api-call.py                # Intro to GET requests with JSONPlaceholder
├── first-api.py                      # Core API concepts & combined examples
└── fastapi.py                        # Building REST APIs using FastAPI

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🚀 Projects Overview

💱 1. Real-Time Currency Converter

File: real-time-currency-converter.py

Converts currency amounts in real time using live exchange rates from the ExchangeRate API.

• Fetches live rates via HTTP GET request
• Supports USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, INR
• Calculates cross-currency conversion using rate ratio formula

python real-time-currency-converter.py
# Enter amount: 1000
# From: INR  →  To: USD
# Output: 1000 INR = 11.97 USD

API Used: https://api.exchangerate-api.com/v4/latest/USD

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🎮 2. Pokémon Info Fetcher

File: connect-api-using-python.py

Fetches real-time Pokémon data (ID, height, weight, abilities) from the public PokéAPI.

• Makes a GET request to a dynamic URL with user input
• Handles HTTP status codes (200 vs errors)
• Parses nested JSON response

python connect-api-using-python.py
# Enter Pokemon name: pikachu
# Name: Pikachu | ID: 25 | Height: 4 | Weight: 60
# Abilities: static, lightning-rod

API Used: https://pokeapi.co/api/v2/pokemon/{name}

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📬 3. Making an API Call (Beginner)

File: making-api-call.py

Introductory example showing the complete anatomy of an API call — request, response, status check, and JSON parsing.

• Uses JSONPlaceholder (free fake REST API for testing)
• Demonstrates response.status_code and response.json()
• Clean error handling with else block

API Used: https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1

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🔗 4. First API — Combined Examples

File: first-api.py

A consolidated file containing all API practice examples written during the learning journey — currency converter, Pokémon fetcher, API call basics, and FastAPI endpoints in one place.

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⚡ 5. FastAPI — Build Your Own API

File: fastapi.py

Demonstrates how to build a REST API from scratch using FastAPI — the modern, high-performance Python framework.

# Endpoint 1: Hello World
GET /  →  {"Hello": "World"}

# Endpoint 2: Items List
GET /items/  →  [{"name": "Ramesh"}, {"name": "Suresh"}]

Run the server:

uvicorn fastapi:app --reload

Then open: http://127.0.0.1:8000/docs for the interactive Swagger UI.

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🛠️ Tech Stack

Technology	Purpose
Python 3.10+	Core programming language
requests	Consuming external REST APIs (HTTP GET)
FastAPI	Building REST API endpoints
uvicorn	ASGI server to run FastAPI
ExchangeRate API	Live forex/currency rates
PokéAPI	Pokémon data (public, no auth needed)
JSONPlaceholder	Fake REST API for testing & learning

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⚙️ Setup & Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10 or above
• pip

Clone the repo

git clone https://github.com/rameshgehlot76/api-projects.git
cd api-projects

Install dependencies

pip install requests fastapi uvicorn

Run any script

python real-time-currency-converter.py
python connect-api-using-python.py
python making-api-call.py

Run FastAPI server

uvicorn fastapi:app --reload

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💡 Key Concepts Learned

• What an API is and how HTTP requests (GET) work
• Parsing and navigating JSON responses in Python
• Handling API errors using status_code checks
• Making dynamic API calls with user input
• Building REST API endpoints using FastAPI
• Understanding API endpoints, routes, and responses
• How requests.get(), response.json(), and status codes work together

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📈 What's Next

• Add POST request examples
• Add API key authentication examples
• Build a weather app using OpenWeatherMap API
• Add FastAPI with Pydantic models and request body
• Deploy a FastAPI project on Render or Railway

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🙋‍♂️ Author

Ramesh Gehlot B.Tech Computer Science | AI & ML Enthusiast

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