Cassidoo Interview - Nov 18

python-substring.py

def substring(*arg):
    # Unknown number of arguments
    arg_length = len(arg)

    # Input string and output
    orig = ''
    out = ''

    # Return original string if no other parameters are given
    if (arg_length > 1):
        orig = arg[0]
    else:
        return arg[0]

    # Iterate through the original input
    for c in range(len(orig)):

        # Build the output string
        if (c >= arg[1]):
            out += orig[c]

        # End output string at third parameter if it exists
        if (arg_length == 3 and c >= arg[2]):
            return out

    # Return substring from second parameter to the end of the string
    return out


def main():
    print(substring("hello world!", 1, 5))
    print(substring("hello world!", 6))
    print(substring("hello world!"))
    print(substring("hello world!", 0))

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()