Loops

Prerequisites

You will need the pyflix package

Objectives

In this exercise, we will simulate the behavior of the PyFlix media center.

The get_season() function in the pyflix.datasource module can take two parameters: the first is the name of a show, and the second is a user’s name (or ID). The function’s signature is get_season(show_name: str = None, user: str = None).

We then retrieve the list of episodes. Each episode is a dictionary.

You can retrieve the episodes of The Big Bang Theory as follows:

pyflix.datasource.get_season('The Big Bang Theory', "Sheldon Cooper")

First, we want to write a function that takes an entire season as a parameter and returns the list of episodes left to watch—that is, the portion of the list starting from the first unwatched episode.

You can retrieve the list of episodes of The Big Bang Theory to create your own datasets. The return value of this function will serve as “production” data.

Getting the list of episodes to watch

Write a function get_playlist_from(season: list) -> list that returns the list of episodes you have left to watch. This list starts with the first unwatched episode and goes all the way to the end. This function therefore returns a list of episodes, which may be empty if you have no more episodes left to watch.

You are encouraged to use tests to, on the one hand, validate your code and, on the other hand, to help you design the model using a TDD approach. If this process leads you to create other intermediate functions, that is normal. Keep them and use them.

Stuck?

If you're having trouble answering the question, you can check out the following hints: The steps in your function should be:

Hint 1

Iterate through the episodes. You can display each episode to verify that you're doing so.

Hint 2

Identify the episodes you haven’t watched. You can display only those during your iteration to validate your code.

Hint 3

Identify the first episode you have left to watch. Then display only that one, or better yet, write a test that proves you’ve found it. The function then returns this episode.

Hint 4

Determine the index of this episode

Hint 5

Use this index to create, using slicing, a new list of episodes that remain to be watched.

My Evening…

I have two hours to spare again tonight and I want to watch the episodes I haven’t seen yet. I want to watch as many full episodes as possible, meaning I need to finish each episode within the time I have available.

You’ll retrieve all the episodes of a season using the function get_season(show_name: str = None, user: str = None). Be sure to provide a name parameter to get a list of episodes with watched/unwatched information. Store this collection in a variable.

Get the list of episodes I have left to watch using the function from the first part. Use a variable named playlist to store it.

We will then simulate the operation of a media center. Display the title of the next episode by removing it from the playlist. Repeat this for as many episodes as I can watch in 2 hours.

Instructions: Start by solving the problem in the simplest way possible. If you write a function, be consistent in your choice of parameters.

You can display the lists at the end of the program to verify the processing.

A bit of an advanced concept…

When you remove an episode from the playlist, set the "watched/unwatched" flag to True in the reference list.

Hint: Remember that in Python, everything is a reference…