PythonChallenge - an Amusing Way to Explore Python

thesamet writes "The Python Challenge is a set of riddles that require a little bit of Python programming to be solved. The purpose of the riddles is to provide an entertaining way to explore the Python programming language. The challenge was started late in April this year and it is starting to gain popularity in the Python community. What people love most about the challenge is that it makes them poke in Python's module library and discover new things. It truly demonstrates the great power of Python's included 'batteries.' The riddles are designed to be solvable by Python beginners, but yet are challenging even to experienced Python programmers. The first few riddles are very easy, but it gradually becomes more and more challenging. Many people reported that playing the challenge is highly addictive and it is great fun. The site also features discussion forums where users can ask for hints. Additionally, after solving a riddle, its solution is available in a wiki form."

not to nitpick here

[Naikrovek (667)]

but where's the perl version?

python is ugly and unreadable.

Re:not to nitpick here

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know of anything exactly the same, but the Perl culture is full of fun playthings centered on enjoyment of the language for its own sake. One might even argue that much of the development process of Perl 6 itself has this flavor, with Apocalypses and Exegeses that partially are language specifications, but are really more like essays or articles on programming in Perl and how positive it is. That's to say the least of things like the Perl advent calendar [perladvent.org], which are much more like the Python challeng

Re:not to nitpick here

[stjobe (78285)]

Here [plover.com].

Re:not to nitpick here

[Anonymous Coward]

python is ugly and unreadable.

You must be a very good computer scientist to reject a language because it has a style guide that's enforced - and to have a strong opinion about a language that you obviously don't know. Wow.

My recommendation to you is to spend 10 minutes reading this tutorial [hetland.org] and playing with the language, then to spend couple of minutes browsing through the documentation [python.org].

Then when you have a quick scripting project you decide to undertake - build a solution in Perl, but take a couple of

Re:not to nitpick here

[JudasBlue (409332)]

Repeat after me, do not feed the troll, do not feed the troll...

It's the same puzzle...

[mystran (545374)]

...but modified rules:

Each riddle must be solved with oneliner in Perl.

And credit where credit is due. I admit seeing this suggestion (IIRC) on Lambda the Ultimate.

yeah, that...

[InsaneCreator (209742)]

Many people reported that playing the challenge is highly addictive and it is great fun.

It's even more addictive and fun to express solutions as perl one-liners. :)

Re:yeah, that...

[fredrikj (629833)]

Any program can be written in a single line in Python as well.

Re:yeah, that...

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, like:

exec("perl -e '...'")

Re:yeah, that...

[fredrikj (629833)]

Much simpler than that: in Python, "exec" takes a string of Python code which may be a complete program.

That cheat isn't necessary to write one-liners though.

Re:yes, a lovely puzzle.

[Surye (580125)]

If they ripped off content, I'd be upset. But they didn't, so get over it.

Re:yes, a lovely puzzle.

[pjl5602 (150416)]

From the FAQ:

<snip>
Where did you get the idea from?
I was inspired while I was playing notpron. It just occured to me that the same style of riddles can serve as a way to discover Python.
<snip>

Also check out RubyQuiz

[Colonel Panic (15235)]

If you're interested in exploring Ruby in a similar way check out RubyQuiz [rubyquiz.com].

Re:Also check out RubyQuiz

[Da VinMan (7669)]

I was wondering about that. Thank you!

FWIW - I've been struggling with choosing between Python and Ruby for some personal projects. These two sites should help tremendously since, if I go by which one I enjoy reading more, then I have a winner.

Re:Also check out RubyQuiz

[swimin (828756)]

Good luck hating reading ruby. Ruby is great to read, and has some very interesting things, but In some places, its lacking.

Re:Also check out RubyQuiz

[Da VinMan (7669)]

Care to elaborate on what you feel it's lacking?

Re:Also check out RubyQuiz

[Taladar (717494)]

Number of (non-japanese) libraries available.

Re:Also check out RubyQuiz

[swimin (828756)]

Ummmm, english documentation?

A good forum would be nice too.

Re:Okay, I just don't get numer 3.

[mmaddox (155681)]

I did that, too. However, if you optimize your search using Regex searching for [A-Z]{3}([a-z])[A-Z]{3} pattern first (before diving into the other dimensions, printing a status message shows the answer pretty clearly. Still, I should've tried the obvious first. That's probably a learning experience.

Re:4) follow the chain

[fizbin (2046)]

I'm curious - what about writing that sort of program bothers you? I wrote such a thing in just a few lines of shell code, so I don't think it's the drudgery...

Re:4) follow the chain

[mmaddox (155681)]

Translation:

"I'm too pissy to do puzzles. Fuck you all for thinking Python puzzles might be fun."

Python?

[ralejs (779782)]

.. a set of riddles that require a little bit of Python programming to be solved.

Cross out the "Python" above. There is no need to use Python to solve these puzzles. I use Haskell [haskell.org]. Some other language might work for someone else. There is nothing Python specific about the challenges. But they are indeed quite amusing.

Re:Python?

[Saedrael (880381)]

"There is no need to use Python to solve these puzzles" Really? Is cvpxyr (rot13ed) available in other languages?

Re:Python?

[ralejs (779782)]

It is really not that difficult to write that function yourself.

Re:Python?

[ggvaidya (747058)]

Be warned: while this is true for most of them, atleast one level requires Pickle [python.org].