generate_random_seats.py

import collections
import itertools
import json
import os
import random


SEPARATOR = '=' * 25 + '\n'
DEFAULT = collections.defaultdict(str)

def generate_seats(week_num, period_num, *, mode='x'):
  """Generate a random seating chart for students. 
  Requires access to a student.json file where a student has a "first", "last", and an optional "nickname" keys.
  """
    seats_path = f'wk{week_num} - per{period_num}.txt'
    cwd = os.getcwd()
    seats_io = os.path.join(cwd, seats_path)
    students_io = os.path.join(cwd, 'students.json')

    with open(students_io, 'r') as students_fp:
        all_students = json.load(students_fp)

    students = [st for st in all_students if st['period'] == period_num]
    random.shuffle(students)
    seats = itertools.product('ABCDEF', range(1, 7))
    seats = [f'{letter}{number}' for letter, number in seats]


    with open(seats_io, mode) as week_fp:
        week_fp.write(f"Period {period_num}\n")
        week_fp.write(SEPARATOR)

        for st, seat in itertools.zip_longest(students, seats, fillvalue=DEFAULT):
            first_name = st.get('nickname', st['first'])
            last_initials = '.'.join(last[0] for last in st['last'].split() + [' '])
            name = f'{first_name} {last_initials}'.strip()
            st_seat = f'{seat} - {name}\n'
            week_fp.write(st_seat)
            attendance_marks = '\t___  ___  ___  ___\n'
            week_fp.write(attendance_marks)
            if seat.endswith('6'):
                week_fp.write(SEPARATOR)