Today: string char class, more string loops, if/else, Doctests, grid, peeps example

Pattern: double_char()

> double_char

• "pattern" - not writing anything from scratch
  Use code pattern from similar problems
• double_char() pattern for string functions
• 1. result = '' at start, return result last
• 2. for i in range(len(s)): loops over all index numbers
• 3. s[i] looks at each char in turn
• 4. result += xxx adds to result

def double_char(s):
    result = ''

    for i in range(len(s)):
        result += s[i] + s[i]

    return result

String Character Class Tests

• A string is made of characters
• Characters are divided into character classes:
• 1. Alphabetic - 'a' 'Z' .. used to make words
• 2. Digits - '0' '1' .. '9' used to make numbers
• 3. Space - space, tab, newline - aka "whitespace"
• There are noun.verb tests for the above 3, returning boolean True or False
• For empty string these return False (a weird edge case)
• All the other chars form a miscellaneous class - '$' '%' ';' ... any char not in the first 3 categories

s.isalpha() - True for alphabetic word char, i.e. 'a-z' and 'A-Z'. Python uses "unicode" to support many alphabets, e.g. 'Ω' is another alphabetic char.

s.isdigit() - True if all chars in s are digits '0' '1' .. '9'

s.isalnum() - alphanumeric, just combines isalpha() and isdigit()

s.isspace() - True for whitespace char, e.g. space, tab, newline

>>> 'a'.isalpha()
True
>>> 'abc'.isalpha()  # works for multiple chars too
True
>>> 'Z'.isalpha()
True
>>> '$'.isalpha()
False
>>> '@'.isalpha()
False
>>> '9'.isdigit()
True
>>> ' '.isspace()
True
>>> 'Ω'.isalpha()    # Unicode
True
>>> 'Ω'.isdigit()
False

Example: alpha_only(s)

> alpha_only

• Given string s
• Return a string of its chars which are alphabetic
  Use the .isalpha() test for each char in s
• e.g. 'H4ip2' returns 'Hip'
• Use the standard for/i/range loop
• If logic inside the loop
  Control if a char is added to result or not
• The double_char() code sets the pattern
  Look at every char in input s
  Build up result string with +=

Solution code

def alpha_only(s):
    result = ''
    
    # Loop over all index numbers
    for i in range(len(s)):
        # Access each s[i]
        if s[i].isalpha():
            result += s[i]
    
    return result

Regular if

Just as a reminder, here is the regular if-statement we've used many times. If the test is True, the lines are run. Otherwise if the test is False, the lines are skipped.

if test-expression:
  Lines-A

if Variation: if / else

See guide for more if/else details: Python-if

if test-expression:
  Lines-A
else:
  Lines-B

• if/else variant:
  Choose between 2 actions
  Always do one of them
• Run lines-A if test is True
• Run lines-B if test is False
• Style: use if/else to choose 1 of 2 actions
• Only use "else" if it is needed
  Regular "if" solves most problems and is simpler
  Sometimes you "else" to switch between 2 actions
• There is a more rare "elif" option we may cover later

Example: str_dx()

> str_dx

• Return string where every digit changes to 'd'
  And every other char changed to 'x'
• e.g. 'ab42z' returns 'xxddx'
• Use if/else

Solution code

def str_dx(s):
    result = ''
    for i in range(len(s)):
        if s[i].isdigit():
            result += 'd'
        else:
            result += 'x'
    return result

else vs. not

Suppose you want to do something if a test is False. Sometimes people sort of back into using else to do that, like the following, but this is not the best way:

if some_test:
     pass  # do nothing here
else:
     do_something

The correct way to do that is with not:

if not some_test:
    do_something

Neat Logic Strategy - By Exhaustion

You know at some level that the interior of the computer is very logical. This problem shows that logical quality at work.

Consider this function:

has_alpha(s): Given string s. Return True if there is an alphabetic char within s. If there is no alphabetic char within s, return False.

> has_alpha

Is this algorithm like the book Are You My Mother?

has_alpha() Cases

Think about looking through the chars of the string. When do you know the answer?

Logic strategy: look at each char. (1) If we see an alpha char, return True immediately. We do not need to look at any more chars. (2) If we look at every char, and never see an alpha char, must conclude that there are no alpha chars and the result should be False. The (1) code goes in the loop. The (2) code goes after the loop - a sort of "by exhaustion" strategy.

has_alpha() Solution

def has_alpha(s):
    for i in range(len(s)):
        if s[i].isalpha():
            # 1. Return True immediately if find
            # alpha char - we're done.
            return True
    # 2. If we get to here, there was no
    # alpha char, so return False.
    return False

Big Picture - Program, Functions, Testing

Big Picture - program made of many functions. Want to build out the functions efficiently, concentrating on one function at a time. The ability to test each function separately is great time-saver.

Divide and Conquer + Tests

• Divide and Conquer strategy
• Divide program into many functions
• Work on one function at a time
  Deal with each function at a time
  Ideally test that function at the same time
• Write helper functions first, test them
• Later functions can call the helpers after they are tested
• Avoid debugging multiple functions at once
• Today: Python built-in tech for testing a function as you go

digits_only(s) Function

Given string s, return a string of its digit chars.

'Hi4x3' -> '43'

str1 project

• Download str1.zip project
• Expand to get "str1" folder
• Open the str1 folder in PyCharm, look at str1.py code

Python Function Doctests

Doctests are the Python technology for easily testing a function.

For more details, see the Doctest chapter in the guide

• Look at the digits_only() or str_dx() functions
• Look at the triple-quote """Pydoc""" of each
• Each ">>>" phrase is a test known as a Doctest

digits_only(s)

def digits_only(s):
    """
    Given a string s.
    Return a string made of all
    the chars in s which are digits,
    so 'Hi4!x3' returns '43'.
    Use a for/i/range loop.
    (this code is complete)
    >>> digits_only('Hi4!x3')
    '43'
    >>> digits_only('123')
    '123'
    >>> digits_only('')
    ''
    """
    result = ''
    for i in range(len(s)):
        if s[i].isdigit():
            result += s[i]
    return result

Python Function - Doctest

Here are the key lines that make one Doctest:

    >>> digits_only('Hi4!x3')
    '43'

• That syntax spells a test of 1 case
• Looks like a function call
• Input between the parens
• Output on the next line
• Very much in the black-box view of a function - input and outputs
• (Interpreter needs to be set for this to work)
• In PyCharm:
  Right click on the text of the Doctest
  Select "Run Doctest ..."
  Sometimes need to click a second time - PyCharm quirk
• Output: Process finished with exit code 0
  Also look for "Tests passed" and green checkmark below code area
  That means it worked perfectly
  This message could be more fun about the result!
• Otherwise get error output
• Experiment: try putting in a bug, run Doctest, fix the bug
• Protip:
  Green "play" button at left re-runs most recent test
  See also top of "Run" menu
  Avoid having to re-click every time

Workflow: Functions with Tests

• Starting work on a function
• Write two or three Doctests first, before writing code
• The first test can just be an obvious case, like 'Hi4!x3'
• Add an "edge" case test, like the empty string ''
• Work on the code, run the tests to see where you are
  Debugging with these little tests is relatively easy
  Use green triangle button to re-run easily (control-r may work too)
• Eventually the tests pass and you're done!
• Green Checkmark!

We'll use Doctests to drive the examples in section and on homework-3.

Grid - Peeps Example

Today's grid example peeps.zip

Grid Utility Code

• We have done lots of 2d algorithms on images
  Always with RGB input/output
  Nice, but just one corner of 2d algorithms
• Grid - generic 2d facility
• In the grid.py file
• 2d storage of str, int, .. anything
• Reference: Grid Reference

Grid Functions

• grid = Grid(3, 2) - create, all None initially
• Zero based x,y coordinates for every square in the grid:
  origin at upper left
  x: 0..grid.width - 1
  y: 0..grid.height - 1
• grid.width, grid.height - access width or height
• grid.get(0, 0) - returns contents at x,y (error if out of bounds)
• grid.set(0, 0, 'a') - set at x,y
• grid.in_bounds(2, 2) - return True if x,y is in bounds

Grid Example Code

grid = Grid(3, 2)
grid.width # returns 3
grid.set(2, 0, 'a')
grid.set(2, 1, 'b')

grid.get(2, 0)  -> 'a'
grid.in_bounds(2, 0) -> True

Grid of Peeps

Suppose we have a 2-d grid of peeps candy bunnies. A square in the grid is either 'p' if it contains a peep, or is None if empty.

Peep Happy Problem

We'll say that a peep is "happy" if it has another peep immediately to its left or right.

Look at the grid squares again. For each x,y .. is that a happy peep x,y?

x, y happy?
(top row)
0, 0 -> False (no peep there)
1, 0 -> True
2, 0 -> True

(2nd row, nobody happy)
0, 1 -> False
1, 1 -> False
2, 1 -> False

is_happy(grid, x, y) Plan

• Build the is_happy(grid, x, y) function
• Write Doctests to check its output
• Need to be able write out a little grid for the tests

Square Bracket Syntax for Grid

Here is the syntax for the above grid. The first [ .. ] is the first row, the second [ .. ] is the second row. This is fine for writing the data of a small grid, which is good enough for writing a test.

grid = Grid.build([[None, 'p', 'p'], ['p', None, 'p']])

Write is_happy() Doctests

def is_happy(grid, x, y):
    """
    Given a grid of peeps and in bounds x,y.
    Return True if there is a peep at that x,y
    and it is happy.
    A peep is happy if there is another peep
    immediately to its left or right.
    >>> grid = Grid.build([[None, 'p', 'p'], ['p', None, 'p']])
    >>> is_happy(grid, 0, 0)
    False
    >>> is_happy(grid, 1, 0)
    True
    >>> is_happy(grid, 2, 0)
    True
    >>> is_happy(grid, 0, 1)
    False
    >>> is_happy(grid, 2, 1)
    False
    """
    pass

Write is_happy() Code

• Use the if/return pick-off strategy
• 1. Pick off the case where x,y is not a peep
• Below (1), know that x,y is a peep
• 2. Look for another peep to the left
  Left is x-1
  Must check that x-1 is in bounds before calling get()
  Without the check, get an "out of bounds" error
• 3. Look for another peep to the right .. similar code
• 4. If (2) and (3) did not find anything, return False

is_happy() Code v1

This code is fine. Using the "pick-off strategy, looking for cases to return True. Then return False as the bottom if none of the cases found another peep.

def is_happy(grid, x, y):
    """
    Given a grid of peeps and in bounds x,y.
    Return True if there is a peep at that x,y
    and it is happy.
    A peep is happy if there is another peep
    immediately to its left or right.
    >>> grid = Grid.build([[None, 'p', 'p'], ['p', None, 'p']])
    >>> is_happy(grid, 0, 0)
    False
    >>> is_happy(grid, 1, 0)
    True
    >>> is_happy(grid, 2, 0)
    True
    >>> is_happy(grid, 0, 1)
    False
    >>> is_happy(grid, 2, 1)
    False
    """
    # 1. Check if there's a peep at x,y
    # If not we can return False immediately.
    if grid.get(x, y) != 'p':
        return False

    # 2. Happy because of peep to left?
    # Must check that x-1 is in bounds before calling get()
    if grid.in_bounds(x - 1, y):
        if grid.get(x - 1, y) == 'p':
            return True

    # 3. Similarly, is there a peep to the right?
    if grid.in_bounds(x + 1, y):
        if grid.get(x + 1, y) == 'p':
            return True

    # 4. If we get to here, not a happy peep,
    # so return False
    return False

is_happy() Using and

The in_bounds() checks can be done with and instead nesting 2 ifs. This works because the "and" works through its tests left-to-right, and stops as soon as it gets a False. This code is a little shorter, but both approaches are fine.

    # 2. Happy because of peep to left?
    # here using "and" instead of 2 ifs
    if grid.in_bounds(x - 1, y) and grid.get(x - 1, y) == 'p':
        return True

Example - has_happy()

Another function in peeps.py. Works on a whole column, instead of just one x,y. The return True/False strategy is similar to the one seen in the has_alpha() example above. Doctests are provided, write the code to make it work.

def has_happy(grid, x):
    """
    Given grid of peeps and an in-bounds x.
    Return True if there is a happy peep in
    that column somewhere, or False if there
    is no happy peep.
    >>> grid = Grid.build([[None, 'p', 'p'], ['p', None, 'p']])  # same grid as before
    >>> has_happy(grid, 0)
    False
    >>> has_happy(grid, 1)
    True
    """
    # your code here
    pass

has_happy() Solution

def has_happy(grid, x):
    """
    Given grid of peeps and an in-bounds x.
    Return True if there is a happy peep in
    that column somewhere, or False if there
    is no happy peep.
    >>> grid = Grid.build([[None, 'p', 'p'], ['p', None, 'p']])  # same grid as before
    >>> has_happy(grid, 0)
    False
    >>> has_happy(grid, 1)
    True
    """
    # x is specified in parameter, loop over all y
    for y in range(grid.height):
        if is_happy(grid, x, y):
            return True
    # if we get here .. no happy peep found
    return False

Doctest Strategy

We're just starting down this path with Doctests. Doctests enable writing little tests for each black-box function as you go, which turns out to be big productivity booster. We will play with this in section and on homework-3.