Sorts a list of strings using a series of interactive prompts

msort.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import argparse
import random
import sys


def eprint(*args, **kwargs):
    """Like print but for stderr"""
    print(*args, file=sys.stderr, **kwargs)


def cmp(a, b):
    answer = None

    while answer not in ["1", "2"]:
        eprint(f"1) {a}")
        eprint(f"2) {b}")
        eprint("\nWho wins? ", end="")
        answer = input().strip()
        eprint()

    if answer == "1":
        return -1
    else:
        return 1


class ManualCompare:
    def __init__(self, obj, *_args):
        self.obj = obj

    def __lt__(self, other):
        return cmp(self.obj, other.obj) < 0

    def __gt__(self, other):
        return cmp(self.obj, other.obj) > 0

    def __eq__(_self, _other):
        return False

    def __le__(self, other):
        return cmp(self.obj, other.obj) <= 0

    def __ge__(self, other):
        return cmp(self.obj, other.obj) >= 0

    def __ne__(_self, _other):
        return True


def main():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
        description="Sorts a list of strings using a series of interactive prompts."
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "file",
        type=argparse.FileType("r"),
        help="file to read as input",
        metavar="FILE",
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "-r",
        "--randomize",
        action="store_true",
        help="shuffle the list before sorting",
    )
    args = parser.parse_args()

    contestants = [line.rstrip("\n") for line in args.file]

    if len(contestants) < 1:
        eprint("No contestants found!")
        sys.exit(1)

    if args.randomize:
        random.shuffle(contestants)

    print("\n".join(sorted(contestants, key=ManualCompare)))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()