Other Useful Python Code

Time Delay

import time

time.sleep(2)  >>> delay by two seconds

OR

from time import sleep

sleep(2)  >>> delay by two seconds

This call will delay the next step of the program by the number inside the sleep function

Typewriter Effect

Example #1

# import modules: sys.stdout.write(), sys.stdout.flush()
from sys import stdout
# import modules: time.sleep()
from time import sleep

# a user-defined function called 'write' to have a typewriter effect
# you don't need to know how it works but you can still use it if you understand
# (a)what it does with the data passed into the function and
# (b) how to use the function properly (look at the examples below)

def write(whatWillIPrint,t):
for i in whatWillIPrint: # loops through each letter of the word(s) we pass into the function
stdout.write(i)
stdout.flush()
sleep(t)  # pause in typing each letter

write("#TypewriterEffect!\n\n",0.2)   #0.2 second time delay

write("Welcome to Digital Technologies today on a Friday!\n\n",0.1)   #0.1 second time delay

for x in range (10):
write(1)
write("...\n",0.2)   #0.2 second time delay

write("Hello. Please enter your name.")
userName = input(">>> ")
#concatenate userName with the words "Hello" and "welcome to Python"
userName = "Hello "+ userName + " welcome to Python."
write(userName,0.1)   #0.1 second time delay

Timing

Timing using built in 'Python time'.

# import time library
import time

# declare a variable for the 'start' of your timing (beginning of game or question)
start = time.time()

# do something (e.g. get the answer for your question)
count = 1
while count <= 10:
  print(count)
  count += 1
  time.sleep(1)

# declare a variable for the 'end' of your timing
end = time.time()

# calculate the time difference, and round the number
totalTime = end - start
totalTime = round(totalTime,2)
print("Total time taken = " + str(totalTime))

Timing using minutes + seconds

from datetime import datetime

from datetime import timedelta

#get current time

start = datetime.now() #get current time in days and hours

#function to convert time to a minute and second format

def timeformat(secs):

 m = round(secs/60)

 s = secs%60

 if s>9:

  print(str(m) + ":" + str(s))

 else:

  print(str(m) + ":0" + str(s))

#call function

timeformat(start.seconds)

String Manipulation 

- http://www.pythonforbeginners.com/basics/string-manipulation-in-python

Accessing individual Characters from a variable

word = "Hello World"

letter=word[0]

>>> print letter

H

Other options:

word = "Hello World"

print word[0]          #get one char of the word

print word[0:1]        #get one char of the word (same as above)

print word[0:3]        #get the first three char

print word[:3]         #get the first three char

print word[-3:]        #get the last three char

print word[3:]         #get all but the three first char

print word[:-3]        #get all but the three last characters