Geek & Sundry Secret Santa

gandssanta.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import copy
import random
import pprint

nice_list = [
    # People's names/usernames go here
    ]

recipients = copy.deepcopy(nice_list)

matches = {}

count = 0
while set(matches.keys()) != set(nice_list) and count < 10:

    # Check it twice...
    for santa in nice_list + nice_list:
        if santa in matches:
            # Already assigned
            continue
        santee = random.choice(recipients)
        if santee == santa:
            # Can't send to yourself
            continue
        if santee in matches and matches[santee] == santa:
            # Don't want santa & santee sending to each other
            continue
        matches[santa] = santee
        recipients.remove(santee)

    # Completed first iteration...
    if set(matches.keys()) != set(nice_list):
        print "missing = ", [n for n in nice_list if n not in matches.keys()]
    else:
        print "COMPLETE!"
    count += 1
    
pprint.pprint(matches)