Python Projects for Beginners: Building a Bitcoin Price Notification Service
Are you interested in learning how to build a Bitcoin price notification service using Python? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll guide you through the entire process step-by-step, starting from setting up the environment to implementing the notification service using Python.to Python Projects for Beginners
Python is an easy-to-learn, high-level, object-oriented programming language that has become increasingly popular among developers.
Its simplicity, versatility, and readability make it an excellent choice for beginners who are just starting to learn programming. Python has a vast library of modules and packages that make it possible to perform complex tasks easily without needing to write a lot of code.
Using HTTP Requests and Webhooks to Create a Bitcoin Price Notification Service
For our Bitcoin price notification service, we are going to use the Coinmarketcap API to retrieve the latest Bitcoin price information. We will use HTTP requests to send requests to the Coinmarketcap API and retrieve data in JSON format.
We will then use webhooks to send notifications to our phones and email addresses whenever the Bitcoin price changes.
Retrieving Bitcoin Price Information from Coinmarketcap API
Coinmarketcap is a website that provides up-to-date information on cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. To access Coinmarketcap’s API, you need to sign up for a free account and get an API key.
Once you have your API key, you can use it to retrieve real-time market data for cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Sending a Test Notification using IFTTT Webhooks
IFTTT (If This Then That) is a free web-based service that lets you create applets to automate tasks. We are going to use IFTTT webhooks to send notifications to our phones and email addresses whenever the Bitcoin price changes.
We’ll start by sending a test notification to make sure everything is set up correctly.
Creating IFTTT Applets for Emergency Notifications and Regular Updates
After the successful test notification, we’ll create two types of applets: an emergency notification applet that sends a notification if the Bitcoin price goes below a certain threshold, and a regular update applet that sends a notification every hour to keep us informed about Bitcoin’s current price.
Implementing the Bitcoin Price Notification Service Using Python
Now that we’ve set up our environment, retrieved the Bitcoin price information from Coinmarketcap using HTTP requests, and created the IFTTT applets, we are ready to implement the Bitcoin price notification service using Python. We’ll write Python code to automate the process of retrieving the Bitcoin price information, sending the data to the IFTTT applets, and receiving notifications on our phones and email addresses.
Retrieving the Latest Bitcoin Price from Coinmarketcap API Using Requests Package
To retrieve the latest Bitcoin price from Coinmarketcap API, we are going to use the requests package. Requests is a Python library that makes it easy to send HTTP/1.1 requests using Python.
With it, we can retrieve the latest Bitcoin price information from Coinmarketcap and use it in our Python code to send notifications.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to build a Bitcoin price notification service using Python. We started by setting up the environment and retrieving Bitcoin price information from Coinmarketcap API.
We then created IFTTT applets to send notifications to our phones and email addresses. Finally, we implemented the Bitcoin price notification service using Python and the requests package.
With the knowledge you’ve gained from this article, you can now explore more complex Python projects and start building more advanced applications.
Sending a Test IFTTT Notification
Before we start creating IFTTT applets, we need to set up a new IFTTT account and applet for testing purposes. If you don’t have an IFTTT account yet, go to the IFTTT website and sign up for a free account.
Once you have a new account, you can create a new applet. To create a new applet, click on the “My Applets” tab and then select the “New Applet” button.
You will then be taken to a new page where you can select your IFTTT trigger and action. For our test notification, we are going to use the “Webhooks” trigger and “Notifications” action.
Webhooks allows us to send data from an external source to our IFTTT applet, while Notifications allows us to receive notifications on our phone or via email. To set up the Webhooks trigger, select “Webhooks” and then click on “Receive a web request.” You will then be asked to give your webhook trigger a name.
For our test notification, we are going to name it “test_notification.” Once you have entered a name, click on “Create Trigger.”
Next, we need to set up the Notifications action. To do this, select “Notifications” and then click on “Send a notification from the IFTTT app.” You will then be asked to provide a message for your notification.
For our test notification, we are going to keep it simple and use the message “Test Notification Received.” Once you have entered your message, click on “Create Action.”
After you have set up your trigger and action, click on “Finish” to complete the process. Your applet is now ready to be tested.
To test your applet, you need to send a web request to your webhook. You can do this using the following URL: https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/{event}/with/key/{key}, where {event} is the name of your webhook trigger, and {key} is your IFTTT account’s API key.
For our test, we are going to use the following URL: https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/test_notification/with/key/{key}, where {key} is replaced with your personal IFTTT account’s API key. Copy this URL into your web browser’s address bar and hit enter.
You should receive a notification on your phone or via email with the message “Test Notification Received.” If you have not received your notification, double-check that you have entered the correct API key in the URL.
Creating IFTTT Applets
Now that we have tested our IFTTT applet successfully, we can create more complex applets for emergency notifications and regular updates.
To create an emergency notification applet, we will trigger the applet if the Bitcoin price goes below a specified threshold.
To do this, we will use the Coinmarketcap API to retrieve the latest Bitcoin price information. We will then compare this price to a predetermined threshold and trigger the notification if the current price is below the threshold.
To create a regular update applet, we will trigger the applet every hour. To do this, we will set up an IFTTT timer that triggers every hour and retrieves the latest Bitcoin price information.
We will then use this information to send a notification to our phones or email addresses. To create these applets, follow the steps we outlined in the previous section, but use different triggers and actions.
Remember to be creative and think about other ways you can use IFTTT to automate daily tasks. With IFTTT’s extensive list of triggers and actions, the possibilities are endless.
In conclusion, IFTTT is a powerful tool that can be used to automate many tasks, including sending notifications. By setting up a test IFTTT applet and creating more complex applets for emergency notifications and regular updates, you can save time and stay informed about important events, such as changes in the Bitcoin price.
With a little bit of creativity, you can use IFTTT to automate other tasks and make your life easier.
Putting It All Together
Now that we have covered all the necessary steps to create a Bitcoin price notification service using Python and IFTTT, let’s implement the service.
Defining Functions for Getting the Latest Bitcoin Price and Posting to IFTTT Webhook
To get started, we’ll define two functions. The first function will be responsible for getting the latest Bitcoin price from the CoinMarketCap API, while the second function will be responsible for posting this information to our IFTTT webhook.
To get the latest Bitcoin price, well define a function that sends an HTTP request to the CoinMarketCap API and returns the price in JSON format. We’ll use the requests library to send the HTTP request, and the json library to parse the JSON response.
To post the price to our IFTTT webhook, well define another function that sends an HTTP POST request to the webhook URL provided by IFTTT. Well use the requests library to send the HTTP request, and the json library to create the JSON payload.
Implementing the Main Function with While True Loop to Continuously Check Bitcoin Price
Now that we have defined our functions, we can implement our main function. Our main function will check the Bitcoin price at regular intervals and send a notification to our phone or email address if the price changes.
We can achieve this using a while True loop that checks the Bitcoin price every minute (or any desired time interval). If the price changes, we’ll call our IFTTT webhook function to post a notification.
Well then keep a record of the Bitcoin price history so that we can display it later in the Telegram update.
Formatting Bitcoin Price History for Telegram Update Using HTML Tags
To display the Bitcoin price history in a clean and easy-to-read format, well format the text using HTML tags. We’ll use HTML to create a table that contains the date, time, and Bitcoin price for each update.
We’ll also include a message that provides insight into why the price is trending upward or downward. For example, if the price is trending downward due to market uncertainty, we’ll include a message that says “Bitcoin price drops as investors lose confidence in the market.”
Recap and Next Steps
In this article, we have covered how to create a Bitcoin price notification service using Python and IFTTT. We started by setting up a free CoinMarketCap API account and an IFTTT account to receive notifications for price changes.
We then retrieved the latest Bitcoin price using Python and posted it to our IFTTT webhook using the requests library. We implemented a main function that continuously checked the Bitcoin price and posted notifications to our IFTTT webhook if the price changed.
Finally, we formatted the Bitcoin price history using HTML tags for a clean and easy-to-read display on Telegram. Now that you have created a Bitcoin price notification service, you can explore further projects using Python and IFTTT.
Some suggestions for future projects include creating a weather notification service, tracking your fitness goals, or automating your social media posts. The possibilities are endless.
In conclusion, this article has provided a comprehensive guide on how to create a Bitcoin price notification service using Python and IFTTT. The article has covered essential topics such as setting up a CoinMarketCap API account, creating IFTTT applets for emergency notifications and regular updates, defining functions for getting the latest Bitcoin price and posting to IFTTT webhook, implementing the main function with a while True loop for continuous checking of Bitcoin price, and formatting Bitcoin price history for Telegram update using HTML tags.
Python and IFTTT offer a powerful combination for automating many tasks, including sending notifications, and the possibilities are endless. Remember to be creative and think outside the box when designing your next project.