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advent-py 🎄🐍

Advent of Code problems solved in Python

Install/Setup: (mise, venv, pip, pip-tools)

  1. I recommend mise to install Python >= 3.12
  • Install: mise install python@<version>
  • (Optional) Use a specific Python version within this project: mise use python@<version>
  1. Once, within the project, create a venv: python -m venv --prompt advent-pypy .venv
  2. Activate it each session: source .venv/bin/activate
  3. Use pip-tools
    1. pip install pip-tools
    2. pip-compile
    3. pip-sync

Alternative: manage your Python versions with pyenv and your virtualenvs with pyenv-virtualenv

Running

Simply run a day's file from within PyCharm.

OR

# from the project root:
$ export PYTHONPATH=.
# then run the actual file
$ python advent/year2020/day1.py
<part 1 answer>
<part 2 answer>

Just simple scripts: Each day's script runs solo (no top-level runner) and reads input from a .txt file with the same prefix in the same directory. For example day1.py reads day1.txt from within the same directory.

What's interesting?

  • What's Advent of Code?
  • Why Advent of Code?
    • It's fun! As opposed to grinding LeetCode, AoC has fun "flavor" and lets you solve however you want (any language or even none!). Lots of hidden easter eggs and nerdy references.
    • Non-prescriptive: you decide how you want to solve the problem: use whatever language, editor/IDE, debuggers, or libraries you want.
    • "Sneaky" concepts: I like how Advent questions are a bit subtle and uniquely challenging. What works for part 1 may not scale for part 2. Sometimes all it takes is some refactoring; other times a full rewrite might be necessary.
  • elf.py - Santa's little helper! Where I put helper functions
    • For example, using __file__ within a python script gives the script filename. Then, changing the .py to .txt makes it simple to put the input file next to the script
    • septoi (stands for "separate, to int") is an incredibly useful helper. By safely "trying" to convert to int, it keeps the "non-number" parts as strings and gives ints where possible. It also accepts a regex to split on, so it's adaptive and flexible. This is a tangible advantage of dynamic typing.
  • Why Python?
    • I've used AoC to get more familiar with other languages (Go, Clojure) and it's been a fun and useful approach.
    • I'm now looking to get more familiar with Python
    • Python is the #1 language for Advent of Code, and for good reason IMO. Most problems are solved in less than 100 lines of python
    • Compare to other languages, Python has significant advantages:
      • Python emphasizes the developer's time, which for these problems is a more crucial resource vs execution time
      • vs Java: Python is succinct, direct, and operates on a higher level (and just more fun!)
      • vs Go, Crystal, or Clojure: Python has a better debugger (or has one at all!)
      • vs Go or Java: Python's int (and dynamic typing in-general) is nicer than strict typing
      • Python is the slowest language to execute, but that's still fast enough. A "correct" solution typically comes down to using the right algorithm or data structures.

My Advent Progress