Cases are the heart of Praxicraft. Each one is a real-world data engineering challenge wrapped in a fictional business scenario. Here's how they work and how to get the most out of them.
What is a case?
A case gives you everything you need to solve a data problem:
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A scenario brief — the fictional business context setting the scene
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A task with a clear objective and expected output
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Downloadable assets like CSV files and schemas
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Hints you can unlock if you get stuck (heads up — each hint costs XP!)
What types of cases are there?
Cases are organised by track:
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Python — write Python code using pandas, NumPy, and other data tools
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SQL — write SQL queries evaluated against a DuckDB sandbox
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Linux — complete shell-based data tasks in a sandboxed Linux environment
What's the difference between Run and Submit?
Great question — they're not the same thing!
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Run — executes your code and shows the output, but doesn't count as a submission attempt. Perfect for testing your work before committing
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Submit — your official attempt, evaluated for XP. Only hit this when you're ready!
Why did my submission fail even though my output looks right?
This happens more than you'd think! Common culprits:
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Trailing whitespace or extra newlines in your output
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Column order that differs from the expected output
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Floating-point precision — make sure you're rounding to the expected number of decimal places
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Encoding issues in string outputs
Double-check the expected output shown on the case page and compare it line by line with yours.
Can I use hints?
Absolutely. Each case has hints that progressively nudge you toward the solution. Just keep in mind:
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Unlocking a hint costs XP from your current balance
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Use them strategically — that's your hard-earned XP you're spending!
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Hints don't affect your rank or lifetime XP
Can I go back to a completed case?
Yes! Completed cases stay accessible any time for review and don't count against your monthly case limit (where applicable).
Last updated: March 2026 — Praxicraft Platform