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Mojo is an emerging programming language that combines Python’s ease of use with C++’s speed. It is particularly suited for AI, machine learning, and high-performance applications. In this guide, you will work on five beginner-friendly Mojo projects to grasp essential programming concepts.

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Project 1: Hello, Mojo! (Basic Syntax & Setup)

Objective: Get familiar with Mojo’s syntax and basic structure by writing a simple program.

Code Example:

fn main():
    print("Hello, Mojo!")

main()

Explanation:

1. Function Definition (fn)
   • Functions in Mojo are defined using fn.
   • main() is the entry point of the program.
2. Printing to Console (print())
   • The print() function displays text output on the screen.
   • Here, it prints "Hello, Mojo!".

Next Steps:

• Modify the program to ask for the user’s name and display a personalized greeting.
• Example:

  fn main():
      let name = "Alice"
      print(f"Hello, {name}!")
  main()
  

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Project 2: Fibonacci Sequence Generator

Objective: Learn recursion, loops, and performance optimizations.

Code Example (Recursive Approach):

fn fibonacci(n: Int) -> Int:
    if n <= 0:
        return 0
    elif n == 1:
        return 1
    else:
        return fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2)

fn main():
    let num: Int = 10  # Generate the 10th Fibonacci number
    print(f"Fibonacci({num}) = {fibonacci(num)}")

main()

Explanation:

1. Recursion

   • The function fibonacci(n) calls itself to compute previous numbers in the sequence.

2. Base Case (if n <= 0)

   • Stops the recursion at n=0 and n=1.

3. Performance Issue:

   • This approach recalculates values multiple times, making it inefficient.

Optimized Approach:

Using memoization to store computed values:

fn fibonacci_memo(n: Int, memo: List[Int]) -> Int:
    if memo[n] != -1:
        return memo[n]
    if n <= 0:
        return 0
    elif n == 1:
        return 1
    else:
        memo[n] = fibonacci_memo(n - 1, memo) + fibonacci_memo(n - 2, memo)
        return memo[n]

fn main():
    let num: Int = 10
    let memo = [-1] * (num + 1)  # Initialize memoization list
    print(f"Fibonacci({num}) = {fibonacci_memo(num, memo)}")

main()

Next Steps:

• Implement an iterative solution to further improve performance.

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Project 3: Simple Calculator

Objective: Learn about functions, user input, and error handling.

Code Example:

fn add(a: Float, b: Float) -> Float:
    return a + b

fn subtract(a: Float, b: Float) -> Float:
    return a - b

fn multiply(a: Float, b: Float) -> Float:
    return a * b

fn divide(a: Float, b: Float) -> Float:
    if b == 0:
        print("Error: Division by zero!")
        return 0
    return a / b

fn main():
    let a: Float = 10.5
    let b: Float = 5.2
    print(f"Addition: {add(a, b)}")
    print(f"Subtraction: {subtract(a, b)}")
    print(f"Multiplication: {multiply(a, b)}")
    print(f"Division: {divide(a, b)}")

main()

Explanation:

1. Arithmetic Operations
   • Each operation is implemented as a separate function.
2. Division by Zero Handling
   • Prevents a crash by checking if b == 0.

Next Steps:

• Extend this program to accept user input for numbers and operations.

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Project 4: Prime Number Checker

Objective: Learn loops, conditions, and performance optimizations.

Code Example:

fn is_prime(n: Int) -> Bool:
    if n < 2:
        return False
    for i in range(2, n):
        if n % i == 0:
            return False
    return True

fn main():
    let num: Int = 17
    if is_prime(num):
        print(f"{num} is a prime number.")
    else:
        print(f"{num} is not a prime number.")

main()

Explanation:

1. Loop (for i in range(2, n))

   • Iterates from 2 to n-1, checking divisibility.

2. Checking for Prime

   • If n is divisible by any number, it’s not a prime.

Optimized Approach:

Checking only up to sqrt(n):

fn is_prime_optimized(n: Int) -> Bool:
    if n < 2:
        return False
    for i in range(2, Int(math.sqrt(n)) + 1):
        if n % i == 0:
            return False
    return True

Next Steps:

• Allow user input to check multiple numbers.

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Project 5: Temperature Converter (Celsius to Fahrenheit)

Objective: Practice arithmetic operations and data handling.

Code Example:

fn celsius_to_fahrenheit(celsius: Float) -> Float:
    return (celsius * 9.0/5.0) + 32.0

fn main():
    let celsius: Float = 25.0
    let fahrenheit = celsius_to_fahrenheit(celsius)
    print(f"{celsius}°C is equal to {fahrenheit}°F")

main()

Explanation:

1. Mathematical Formula
   • Fahrenheit = (Celsius × 9/5) + 32
2. Function Design
   • Accepts a float input and returns a float.

Next Steps:

• Expand the program to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius.
• Allow user input for conversions.

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Final Thoughts

These five beginner-friendly projects introduce core Mojo programming concepts: ✅ Functions & Recursion
✅ Loops & Conditions
✅ Error Handling
✅ Performance Optimization