How To Build a Pac-Man Game in Python

This week we’re sharing a new Python project, including source code and a step-by-step tutorial. We’re also going to cover how to create a URL shortener app with Python, not to mention how to do OOP in Python, and how one command broke 10% of the internet.

This Week’s Resources

• Python Pac-Man Game with Interactive GUI

• Python Walkthrough: Create URL Shortener App with PyQT (YouTube)

• New Tech Job Opportunities for 2025

• Where to Learn AWS

• How Skype’s Failure Reflects on Consumer Tech Trust (MSN)

• Object-Oriented Programming in Python: Full Guide

• One Command Broke 10% of the Internet (YouTube)

• Are You Interview Ready? Test Yourself With This Free AI Interviewer

• The Rise of Spreadsheet Brackets for March Madness (MSN)

• Docker Command Cheat Sheet

New Python Project: Build a Pac-Man Game App

We're excited to share this new Python project with you. This is all about building a Pac-Man game with Pygame. This is a great way to dive into game development while learning how to handle user input, design a 2D grid-based environment, and implement collision detection.

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional Pac-Man game, complete with movement controls, randomized ghost behavior, and real-time collision detection.

Follow along as we break it down step by step, and we’ll provide all the code so you can modify and expand the game however you like. Let’s get started!

How to Build a URL Shortener App with Python

Want to build your own Python app to tidy up long and messy URLs? This step-by-step tutorial (less than 30 minutes) walks you through creating a fully functional URL shortener using PyQt, a powerful GUI framework for Python.

Specifically, the video covers:

• Setting up your development environment for PyQt

• Building an intuitive user interface with PyQt widgets

• Using the PyShorteners library to generate short links

• Implementing error handling and user input validation

• Adding stylish UI elements for a modern, polished look

And make sure to check out the upcoming walkthroughs. We’ve got a fun project that creates a Python password manager coming up soon.

We will have the full walkthrough, including the full source code for the project, on Hackr.io.

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Master Object-Oriented Programming in Python

Want to organize your Python code like a pro? We just released a complete guide to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), covering the essential principles of classes, objects, inheritance, and more.

Specifically, this guide covers:

• How to define classes and create objects in Python

• The role of instance vs. class attributes and when to use them

• How inheritance lets you reuse and extend existing code

• The power of encapsulation for data security and control

• How polymorphism allows flexible, reusable code

• A practice challenge to apply what you’ve learned

class Car:
    def __init__(self, brand, model):
        self.brand = brand
        self.model = model

    def display_info(self):
        print(f"Car: {self.brand} {self.model}")

# Creating an object
my_car = Car("Toyota", "Corolla")
my_car.display_info()

Object-Oriented Programming helps you write structured, scalable, and maintainable Python applications. Read the full guide to start applying OOP in your projects today.

How One Command Broke 10% of the Internet

And before you ask, no, this is not about Counter-Strike! Instead, it’s about an experiment in 1988, when the Morris Worm spread across the early internet, unintentionally crippling 10% of all connected systems. What started as a research experiment exposed critical security flaws and led to a wake-up call for the entire tech world.

This incident not only highlighted the dangers of unchecked vulnerabilities but also led to the creation of the first-ever Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), shaping modern cybersecurity practices.

The Code Editor

Did you know about the free Python, HTML, and JavaScript code editor? Just log into your free account at Hackr.io to use them.

Microsoft’s Big Loss, Your Big Problem?

Microsoft is calling it a day with Skype. Here’s what that means for consumer trust in the tech market.

For many, Skype’s disappearance might seem inconsequential, an outdated relic from the early 2000s that Zoom, FaceTime, and WhatsApp had long overshadowed. But its demise underscores a growing problem: users have little control over the fate of digital services they depend on.

Microsoft’s decision follows a pattern seen across the tech industry. Google has shut down countless products, from Google Reader to Google Hangouts, sometimes with little warning.