Build Your Own Web App Using Streamlit: A Passion Project for High School Students

In today’s tech-driven world, having the skills to create web applications is not just impressive but also incredibly useful. Whether you're interested in data science, web development, or just want to try something creative, Streamlit is a powerful, beginner-friendly tool that allows you to create custom web apps using Python. This passion project is perfect for high school students who want to dive into coding and create something practical and interactive.

In this blog, we'll explore how high school students can use Streamlit to build their own web apps, the benefits of doing so, and a step-by-step guide to get started on your web app development journey.

What Is Streamlit?

Streamlit is an open-source Python framework that makes it easy to build and share beautiful, interactive web apps directly from Python scripts. The best part? You don’t need to be a web development expert to get started. Streamlit handles the complexities of web development for you, so you can focus on building your app's functionality and design.

It’s commonly used in data science and machine learning projects, but you can use it to create web apps for any purpose—whether it’s a tool to visualize data, a personal portfolio, or an interactive app to track your school projects.

Why Build a Web App with Streamlit?

Building a web app using Streamlit as a high school passion project offers a range of benefits:

1. Learn Valuable Coding Skills

Streamlit allows you to practice Python while learning about web development concepts. You’ll gain hands-on experience working with code, data, and app-building tools, which can be helpful for future academic projects or even career opportunities.

2. Showcase Your Projects Online

Once you’ve built your web app, you can easily share it with others. This makes it a fantastic way to showcase your skills on college applications or during interviews. Plus, it’s a unique project that can help you stand out from the crowd.

3. Create Something Functional and Interactive

Unlike static projects or presentations, a web app is interactive. You can create tools that others can use, like a school project tracker, a personal portfolio, or even a simple game.

4. Build Your Portfolio

Web development projects are a great addition to any portfolio. Whether you're applying for internships, scholarships, or colleges, a personal web app demonstrates that you can take initiative, solve problems, and apply technical skills.

Getting Started: How to Build Your First Web App with Streamlit

Here’s a simple guide to help you get started with building your own web app using Streamlit.

1. Install Python and Streamlit

Before diving into app development, make sure you have Python installed on your computer. Streamlit runs on Python, so it's essential to have it set up.

• You can download Python from python.org.

• To install Streamlit, open your terminal or command prompt and type the following:

pip install streamlit

Once installed, you’re ready to create your first web app!

2. Create Your First Streamlit App

To create a Streamlit app, you need to write Python code and run it using the Streamlit framework. Start by creating a simple app to display text on the screen.

Open a new Python file and add the following code:

import streamlit as st

st.title("Welcome to My First Web App!")
st.write("This is a web app created using Streamlit.")

Save the file as app.py. To run the app, type this command in the terminal:

streamlit run app.py

This will open your web app in a browser, where you’ll see the title and text you’ve added. Congratulations—you’ve just created your first web app!

3. Add Interactivity with Widgets

One of the most exciting parts of using Streamlit is how easy it is to add interactivity. You can add buttons, sliders, input forms, and more to make your app dynamic. Let’s say you want to add a text input box and a button to display user input:

import streamlit as st

st.title("User Input App")

user_input = st.text_input("Enter your name:")
if st.button("Submit"):
    st.write(f"Hello, {user_input}!")

Now when users type their name and hit “Submit,” the app will greet them by name. This is just the beginning—you can explore many more widgets to make your app even more interactive.

4. Incorporate Data and Visualizations

Streamlit is great for showcasing data, especially if you want to create apps that involve data visualization. For example, you can use Pandas and Matplotlib (or other Python libraries) to generate and display charts and graphs directly within your app.

Let’s add a simple line chart to your app:

import streamlit as st
import pandas as pd
import numpy as np

st.title("Data Visualization App")

# Create a random dataset
data = pd.DataFrame(np.random.randn(10, 2), columns=['Column A', 'Column B'])

# Display the data as a table and a line chart
st.write("Here is the data:")
st.write(data)
st.line_chart(data)

This code will generate random data, display it in a table, and create a line chart. Visualizations like these are particularly helpful for students who want to present data-driven projects.

5. Deploy Your Web App Online

Once you’ve built your app, it’s time to share it with the world! Streamlit provides an easy way to deploy your app on the cloud using Streamlit Cloud. You can create a free account, connect your GitHub repository, and deploy your app in just a few clicks.

Here’s how to deploy your app:

1. Push your Python code to a GitHub repository.

2. Head over to Streamlit Cloud and sign in.

3. Connect your GitHub repository and deploy your app.

Now your app is live online, and you can share the link with anyone!

Ideas for Your Streamlit Web App

Need some inspiration for your web app? Here are a few ideas you can explore:

1. Personal Portfolio Website

Create a web app that showcases your school projects, extracurricular activities, and achievements. Add sections for project descriptions, skills, and even links to external resources or documents.

2. School Project Tracker

Build an app that helps you (and your classmates) track assignments, deadlines, and progress. Add features like task creation, due date input, and progress visualization using graphs.

3. Interactive Data Dashboard

If you enjoy working with data, create a dashboard where users can input datasets and generate charts or graphs to visualize trends. This is especially useful for science or economics students working on data-based projects.

4. Quiz App

Create a simple quiz app where users can answer questions and receive instant feedback. Customize the quiz with different topics, scoring systems, and visualizations of the results.

Benefits of Building a Web App with Streamlit as a Passion Project

1. Hands-On Learning Experience

Building your own web app offers hands-on experience with coding, design, and problem-solving. It’s a project that teaches you to think critically and apply what you’ve learned in a meaningful way.

2. Creative Freedom

Streamlit gives you the freedom to create anything you can imagine. Whether it's a study tool, a game, or a portfolio website, you have control over the design and functionality.

3. Showcase for College Applications

Colleges appreciate students who show initiative and creativity in their projects. A self-made web app demonstrates that you have technical skills, the ability to complete a project, and the drive to learn outside the classroom.

4. Build Problem-Solving and Coding Skills

Building an app from scratch challenges you to solve problems, debug code, and think like a developer. These skills are transferable to many areas of study and can set you up for success in the future.

Conclusion

Building a web app using Streamlit is a fantastic way for high school students to take their passion for coding and technology to the next level. Whether you’re building a personal project tracker, a portfolio website, or a data dashboard, Streamlit makes it easy to turn your ideas into reality. Plus, you’ll be building valuable technical skills that will help you in college, internships, and beyond.

Ready to start your own web app project? Get coding, and see where your creativity and technical skills can take you!