Generates a spiral of numbers in a matrix

generate_spiral.py

RIGHT = (0, 1)
LEFT = (0, -1)
UP = (-1, 0)
DOWN = (1, 0)

def rotate(d):
    if d == RIGHT:
        return DOWN
    elif d == DOWN:
        return LEFT
    elif d == LEFT:
        return UP
    else:
        return RIGHT


def generate_spiral(n: int):
    m = [[0] * n for _ in range(n)]
    coordinates = []

    i = 1
    x = (n // 2 - 1, n // 2 - 1)
    m[x[0]][x[1]] = i
    direction = RIGHT
    coordinates.append(x)


    for side in [2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8]:
        steps_remaining = side - 1
        while steps_remaining > 0:
            steps_remaining -= 1
            i += 1
            x = (x[0] + direction[0], x[1] + direction[1])
            m[x[0]][x[1]] = i
            coordinates.append(x)

        direction = rotate(direction)

    return m, coordinates


spiral, _ = generate_spiral(8)
for row in spiral:
    print("\t".join(map(str, row)))