Hello! Just in case any fellow learners are looking for a discussion/solution thread for:
8. Learn Python 3 - Dictionaries, Off-Platform Project: Abruptly Goblins
The parameters on the original solution key may throw some of us off, so I tried to refine a version that helps with clarifying the steps.
#Organising Sorcery Society's Game Night
# 1. check availability of players
# 2. check which day most players are available
# 3. informing them of game night
# create a main list to house information on all our existing gamers
gamers = []
# create a function to append gamer entries that have the required keys ânameâ, âavailabilityâ, e.g. {"name":"Kara Danvers", "availability":["Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday"]}
# we'll name the parameters (gamer for 1 single gamer entry) and (valid_gamers for the list we are appending to)
def add_gamer(gamer, valid_gamers):
if gamer.get("name") and gamer.get("availabilityâ):
valid_gamers.append(gamer)
else:
print("Gamer missing required informationâ)
# new gamer entry
kara_danvers = {"name":"Kara Danversâ, "availability":["Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday"]}
# initiate add_gamer function to add new gamer to main list
add_gamer(kara_danvers, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Alex Danvers", "availability":["Monday", "Friday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Lena Luthor", "availability":["Saturday", "Sunday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Winnslow Schott", "availability":["Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"James Olsen", "availability":["Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Kelly Olsen", "availability":["Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Nia Nal", "availability":["Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Querl Dox", "availability":["Wednesday", "Friday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Barry Allen", "availability":["Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday"]}, gamers)
add_gamer({"name":"Iris West", "availability":["Tuesday", "Thursday"]}, gamers)
#print(gamers)
# build a base day, availabilities counter with the count at 0
def build_daily_frequency_counter():
return {"Monday":0, "Tuesday":0, "Wednesday":0, "Thursday":0, "Friday":0, "Saturday":0, "Sundayâ:0 }
daily_frequency_counter = build_daily_frequency_counter( )
# using the base counter we built, start to iterate the availability of each game and tally the counter
# the parameters are (the main list of gamers) and (the counter we are using)
def calculate_availability(valid_gamers, counter):
for gamer in valid_gamers:
for day in gamer['availability']:
counter[day] += 1
calculate_availability(gamers, daily_frequency_counter)
#print(daily_frequency_counter)
# create a function that picks the best day for game night, with one parameter (the counter)
def find_best_day(counter):
best_avail = 0
for day, availability in counter.items():
if availability > best_avail:
best_day = day
best_avail = availability
return best_day
game_night = find_best_day(daily_frequency_counter)
print(game_night)
# create a function that generates a list of gamers names available on the day of game night, with the parameters (the main list) and (the best day)
# this is used in the emails send to gamers informing them about game night
def avail_on_day(valid_gamers, best_day):
avail_gamers = []
for gamer in valid_gamers:
for value in gamer.values():
if best_day in value:
avail_gamers.append(gamer['nameâ])
return avail_gamers
# return [gamer for gamer in valid_gamers if best_day in gamer['availabilityâ]]
# you can use the above list comprehension if you want the name + availability
avail_game_night = avail_on_day(gamers, game_night)
print(avail_game_night)
# create variable for formatted email blast message
invite_email = """
Dear {name},
The Sorcery Society is happy to host "{game}" night and wishes you will attend. Come by on {day_of_week} and have a blast!
Magically Yours,
The Sorcery Society
"""
# create a function to send an invitation email for those who can make it to the chosen game night day, with the parameters (available attendees), (chosen day) and (the game)
def send_email(avail_attendees, chosen_day, game):
for gamer in avail_attendees:
print(invite_email.format(name = gamer, day_of_week = chosen_day, game = game))
send_email(avail_game_night, game_night, "Abruptly Goblins!")
# for gamers who couldn't attend, use list comprehension to sift them from the main list out into a separate list
# gamers who couldn't attend did not have the game night day in their available days
unable_to_attend_best_night = [gamer for gamer in gamers if game_night not in gamer['availability']]
# start a new day availability counter for those who couldn't attend for best day game night
# this counter will start at 0
second_night_avail_counter = build_daily_frequency_counter()
print(second_night_avail_counter)
# call the function that tallies the day availabilities of the remaining gamers
calculate_availability(unable_to_attend_best_night, second_night_avail_counter)
print(second_night_avail_counter)
# call the function to pick the best night tallied by the second counter
second_night = find_best_day(second_night_avail_counter)
print(second_night)
# create list of all the gamers available for the second game night picked
avail_second_game_night = avail_on_day(gamers, second_night)
# call the function to send them a notification email regardless if they are also avail for the best day game night
send_email(avail_second_game_night, second_night, "Abruptly Goblins!")
Questions
-
What if there are multiple contenders for best day game night? Which day will the system choose or it will be randomised?
-
Because of the gamers who are unable to attend the best day game night, those gamers who can attend both days will receive another email informing them for second day game night, which may feel like spam.
If we want to send the overlapping gamers 1 email with 2 choice of days, this means we need to pre-select the most avail day, second most avail day before sending the emails. Also, to do this we have to make 3 lists (a. gamers who can only attend most avail day, b. gamers who can only attend second avail day, c. gamers who can attend both most and second avail day (have to be popped from lists a and b). Iâm still working on this.
Is there are other ways to better improve this exercise, please do share! 
