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The goal of this homework assignment is to allow you to practice using Python to create scripts that utilize data structures such as lists and dicts to create simple Unix filters or utilities.

For this assignment, record your scripts and any responses to the following activities in the homework04 folder of your assignments GitHub repository and push your work by noon Saturday, February 25.

Activity 0: Preparation

Before starting this homework assignment, you should first perform a git pull to retrieve any changes in your remote GitHub repository:

$ cd path/to/repository                   # Go to assignments repository

$ git checkout master                     # Make sure we are in master branch

$ git pull --rebase                       # Get any remote changes not present locally

Next, create a new branch for this assignment:

$ git checkout -b homework04              # Create homework04 branch and check it out

Once this is done, download the Makefile and test scripts:

# Go to homework04 folder
$ cd homework04

# Download the Makefile
$ curl -LO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nd-cse-20289-sp23/cse-20289-sp23-assignments/master/homework04/Makefile

# Add and commit Makefile
$ git add Makefile
$ git commit -m "homework04: add Makefile"

# Download the test scripts
$ make test-scripts

Note, you do not need to add and commit the test scripts since the Makefile will automatically download them again whenever you run make.

You are now ready to work on the activities below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Activity 1: RPN (5 Points)

Back in the day, when phones were landlines, computers were the size of minivans, and the instructor was just a twinkle in his parents' eye, the pride and joy of every engineering geek was their HP scientific calculator. Even the mighty Woz1 cherished his legendary HP-35.

Of course, since the old timers back then were super awesome (unlike today's zoomers), they didn't use the standard lame infix notation to perform their calculations; instead, they used the uber 1337 reverse polish notation.

That is, rather than entering in <operand> <operation> <operand>, you would enter in <operand> <operand> <operation> to perform a calculation on the RPN calculator. Using RPN eliminates the need for paretheses and orders of operation since it is never ambiguous what operands are used with which operation; the operation is always applied to the previous arguments.

This means that if you wanted to perform 3 + 4, you would have to enter in:

3 4 +

To prove that you too are uber awesome and to relive some of the glory days, you are to create a RPN calulator that can perform the following arithmetic operations: +, -, *, /.

Task 1: rpn.py

The rpn.py script does not take any flags besides -h:

$ ./rpn.py -h
Usage: rpn.py

By default, `rpn.py` will process expressions from standard input.

As noted in the usage message, the rpn.py script will process RPN expressions by reading in one expression per line, evaluating that expression, and then displaying the results.

For instance, given the following input:

4
5 8 * 1 +

The rpn.py script will output the following:

4.0
41.0

Here is an example of rpn.py in action:

$ ./rpn.py
4
4.0
5 8 * 1 +
41.0

Skeleton

Here is a skeleton you can use to start your rpn.py script:

# Download rpn.py skeleton
$ curl -LO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nd-cse-20289-sp23/cse-20289-sp23-assignments/master/homework04/rpn.py

It should look something like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import os
import sys

# Globals

OPERATORS = {'+', '-', '*', '/'}

# Functions

def usage(status=0):
    ''' Display usage message and exit with status. '''
    progname = os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
    print(f'''Usage: {progname}

By default, {progname} will process expressions from standard input.''')

    sys.exit(status)

def error(message):
    ''' Display error message and exit with error. '''
    print(message, file=sys.stderr)
    sys.exit(1)

def evaluate_operation(operation, operand1, operand2):
    ''' Return the result of evaluating the operation with operand1 and
    operand2.

    >>> evaluate_operation('+', 4, 2)
    6

    >>> evaluate_operation('-', 4, 2)
    2

    >>> evaluate_operation('*', 4, 2)
    8

    >>> evaluate_operation('/', 4, 2)
    2.0
    '''
    pass

def evaluate_expression(expression):
    ''' Return the result of evaluating the RPN expression.

    >>> evaluate_expression('4 2 +')
    6.0

    >>> evaluate_expression('4 2 -')
    2.0

    >>> evaluate_expression('4 2 *')
    8.0

    >>> evaluate_expression('4 2 /')
    2.0

    >>> evaluate_expression('4 +')
    Traceback (most recent call last):
    ...
    SystemExit: 1

    >>> evaluate_expression('a b +')
    Traceback (most recent call last):
    ...
    SystemExit: 1
    '''
    pass

def main():
    ''' Parse command line arguments and process expressions from standard
    input. '''
    pass

# Main Execution

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Notes

Doctests

The >>> ... strings under each function are doctests. These serve a dual purpose: they provided documentation on what the function should do AND they act as unit tests for the function.

You must not remove or alter these doctests.

Hints

Task 2: Testing

To aid you in testing the rpn.py script, we have provided you with both doctests and test_rpn.sh, which you can use as follows:

# Run just the doctests
$ python3 -m doctest rpn.py -v
...
4 items had no tests:
    rpn
    rpn.error
    rpn.main
    rpn.usage
2 items passed all tests:
  6 tests in rpn.evaluate_expression
  4 tests in rpn.evaluate_operation
10 tests in 6 items.
10 passed and 0 failed.
Test passed.

# Run doctests and functional tests
$ ./test_rpn.sh
Testing rpn.py ...
   Doctests                                 ... 2.00 / 2.00
   Usage                                    ... Success
   Usage (Bad Flags)                        ... Success
   Expressions 0                            ... Success
   Expressions 1                            ... Success
   Expressions 2                            ... Success
   Error 1                                  ... Success
   Error 2                                  ... Success

   Score 5.00 / 5.00
  Status Success

Activity 2: Unique (5 Points)

Ben2 hates that he has to sort his data before he can use uniq. Now that he is learning about the awesomeness of Python and power of data structures, he decides to write his own version of uniq that uses a dict to avoid the need for sorting. Because it is 2023 and vowels are no longer expensive, he calls his version of the Unix filter: unique.py.

Task 1: unique.py

The unique.py script supports a few of uniq's most frequently used flags:

$ ./unique.py -h
Usage: unique.py [flags]

    -c      Prefix lines by the number of occurrences
    -d      Only print duplicate lines
    -i      Ignore differences in case when comparing, prints out full line in lowercase
    -u      Only print unique lines

By default, `unique.py` prints one of each type of line.

The -c flag means that the program will prefix each line with the number of times each line appears.

The -d flag modifies the output so that only duplicate lines (ie. count > 1) are displayed.

The -i flag will force the program to ignore case by converting each line into lowercase.

The -u flag modifies the output so that only unique lines (ie. count == 1) are displayed.

Given the following pokemon.txt file:

pikachu
pikachu
charmander
Squirtle
squirtle
squirtle

Here are examples of unique.py in action:

$ cat pokemon.txt | ./unique.py
pikachu
charmander
Squirtle
squirtle

$ cat pokemon.txt | ./unique.py -i -c -d
      2 pikachu
      3 squirtle

$ cat pokemon.txt | ./unique.py -u
charmander
Squirtle

Skeleton

Here is a skeleton you can use to start your unique.py script:

# Download unique.py skeleton
$ curl -LO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nd-cse-20289-sp23/cse-20289-sp23-assignments/master/homework04/unique.py

It should look something like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import os
import sys

# Functions

def usage(status=0):
    ''' Display usage message and exit with status. '''
    progname = os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
    print(f'''Usage: {progname} [flags]

    -c      Prefix lines by the number of occurrences
    -d      Only print duplicate lines
    -i      Ignore differences in case when comparing, prints out full line in lowercase
    -u      Only print unique lines

By default, {progname} prints one of each type of line.''')
    sys.exit(status)

def count_frequencies(stream=sys.stdin, ignore_case=False):
    ''' Count the line frequencies from the data in the specified stream while
    ignoring case if specified. '''
    pass

def print_lines(frequencies, occurrences=False, duplicates=False, unique_only=False):
    ''' Display line information based on specified parameters:

    - occurrences:  if True, then prefix lines with number of occurrences
    - duplicates:   if True, then only print duplicate lines
    - unique_only:  if True, then only print unique lines
    '''
    pass

def main():
    ''' Process command line arguments, count frequencies from standard input,
    and then print lines. '''
    pass

# Main Execution

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Hints

Task 2: Testing

To aid you in testing the unique.py script, we have provided you with both unique_test.py and test_unique.sh, which you can use as follows:

# Run just the unit tests
$ ./unique_test.py -v
test_00_count_frequencies (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_01_count_frequencies_ignore_case (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_02_print_lines (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_03_print_lines_ignore_case (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_04_print_lines_occurrences (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_05_print_lines_ignore_case_occurrences (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_06_print_lines_duplicates (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_07_print_lines_ignore_case_duplicates (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_08_print_lines_unique_only (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_09_print_lines_ignore_unique_only (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_10_print_lines_occurrences_duplicates (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_11_print_lines_ignore_case_occurrences_duplicates (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_12_print_lines_occurrences_unique_only (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok
test_13_print_lines_ignore_case_occurrences_unique_only (__main__.UniqueTest) ... ok

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ran 14 tests in 0.001s

OK

# Run unit and functional tests
$ ./test_unique.sh
Testing unique.py ...
   Unit Tests                               ... 2.00 / 2.00
   Usage                                    ... Success
   Usage (Bad Flags)                        ... Success
   Unique                                   ... Success
   Unique -i                                ... Success
   Unique -c                                ... Success
   Unique -i -c                             ... Success
   Unique -d                                ... Success
   Unique -i -d                             ... Success
   Unique -c -d                             ... Success
   Unique -i -c -d                          ... Success
   Unique -u                                ... Success
   Unique -i -u                             ... Success
   Unique -c -u                             ... Success
   Unique -i -c -u                          ... Success

   Score 5.00 / 5.00
  Status Success

Activity 3: Quiz (2 Points)

Once you have completed all the activities above, you are to complete the following reflection quiz:

As with Reading 01, you will need to store your answers in a homework04/answers.json file. You can use the form above to generate the contents of this file, or you can write the JSON by hand.

To test your quiz, you can use the check.py script:

$ ../.scripts/check.py
Checking homework04 quiz ...
     Q01 0.20
     Q02 0.40
     Q03 0.60
     Q04 0.20
     Q05 0.60
   Score 2.00 / 2.00
  Status Success

Guru Point (1 Extra Credit Point)

For extra credit, you are to extend the rpn.py script to support the exponent operation:

2 3 ^ -> 8

Once you have implemented this functionality, you are to extend the existing doctests in your rpn.py to verify that the new operation is implemented correctly. Moreover, you are to create a new rpn_test.py that uses unittest to test each arithmetic operation that your rpn.py script supports (hint: you can use unique_test.py as a reference).

Note, unit testing is an important software development method used in most modern workplaces and the purpose of this extra credit opportunity is to allow you to practice making your own tests for a program you wrote.

Verification

To get credit for this Guru Point, show your modified rpn.py and your new rpn_test.py to a TA to verify (or attached a video / screenshot to your Pull Request). You have up until a week after this assignment is due to verify your Guru Point.

Self-Service Extension

Remember that you can always forgo this Guru Point for two extra days to do the homework. That is, if you need an extension, you can simply skip the Guru Point and you will automatically have until Monday to complete the assignment for full credit.

Just leave a note on your Pull Request of your intentions.

Submission

To submit your assignment, please commit your work to the homework04 folder of your homework04 branch in your assignments GitHub repository. Your homework04 folder should only contain the following files:

Note: You do not need to commit the test scripts because the Makefile automatically downloads them.

#--------------------------------------------------
# BE SURE TO DO THE PREPARATION STEPS IN ACTIVITY 0
#--------------------------------------------------

$ cd homework04                                       # Go to Homework 03 directory

$ $EDITOR rpn.py                                      # Edit script
$ git add rpn.py                                      # Mark changes for commit
$ git commit -m "homework04: Activity 1 completed"    # Record changes
...
$ $EDITOR unique.py                                   # Edit script
$ git add unique.py                                   # Mark changes for commit
$ git commit -m "homework04: Activity 2 completed"    # Record changes
...
$ $EDITOR answers.json                                # Edit quiz
$ git add answers.json                                # Mark changes for commit
$ git commit -m "homework04: Activity 3 completed"    # Record changes
...
$ git push -u origin homework04                       # Push branch to GitHub

Pull Request

Remember to create a Pull Request and assign the appropriate TA from the Reading 05 TA List.

DO NOT MERGE your own Pull Request. The TAs use open Pull Requests to keep track of which assignments to grade. Closing them yourself will cause a delay in grading and confuse the TAs.


  1. Woz spilled my french fries. I will never forget. 

  2. Thanks to Ben Lyons for prototyping this assignment.