Python

CH09-05: Files Project

🎬 The Mission

“The scoreboard is reset. The Sixers are closing in. And now, the artifacts aren’t just scattered… they’re encoded.”

📡 Incoming Transmission from Aech...

“Yo Gunter! We’ve uncovered a new vault buried deep in the OASIS—each world’s artifacts are encrypted in different formats. JSON files are the key, but they’re all formatted differently. IOI is sniffing around, and Parzival needs backup. We’re counting on you to decode, extract, and safeguard the truth.”

🧠 Your Mission

Welcome to your final challenge, Gunter. You are now a certified artifact archivist — a Filemaster. Your job is to create a covert command-line intelligence tool capable of parsing, managing, and recording changes across multiple game universes.

You’ll build a Python program that can:
- - Load data from wildly different JSON formats.
  - Let users add, search, and delete in-world game items.
  - Maintain a timestamped logbook (log.txt) of every action — a digital audit trail.
  - Hide an admin-only backdoor to reveal the full log… if the passcode is known.
  - Optionally export legendary-level loot to a master list for bonus XP.

🎯 Project Objective (With Text File Logging)

Build a flexible Python application that:
- - 🚀Lets the user select from multiple .json files (each representing a real-world game).
  - 🔄Parses and displays data correctly based on the file’s structure.
  - 🎮Lets users add and delete data.
  - ✍️Saves changes to the correct JSON file.
  - 📖Appends actions with timestamps to log.txt.
  - 🧠Includes a secret menu option for reading the full log.
  - BONUS: Exports filtered data to new .json files for bonus XP.

🎮 Three Levels, One Legacy: Gunter Progression System

This isn’t just another Python project. This is your trial by fire — a digital rite of passage inside the OASIS. Your mission is broken into three distinct tiers: Core, Advanced, and Master Gunter levels. Each stage unlocks more abilities, earns you higher XP, and—if you’re sharp enough—reveals secret Easter Eggs buried within the codebase.

🟢 Level 1: Core Gunters (up to 80%)

Welcome to the frontlines. Core Gunters will prove their worth by completing essential tasks: loading and reading JSON files, displaying game data in world-specific formats, and letting users modify the archives. You’ll handle Pokémon balls, enchanted Minecraft gear, and Diablo amulets—all uniquely formatted. Finish this tier, and you’ll earn a guaranteed spot on the scoreboard, along with your first few credits and a key to the logbook.

🔵 Level 2: Advanced Gunters (up to 100%)

Now things get serious. Advanced Gunters are entrusted with the logbook — a covert .txt file recording every add, edit, and deletion across the multiverse. You’ll also unlock powerful admin features, like searching the entire inventory and accessing a hidden menu—if you can crack the passcode. Complete this tier and you’ll gain advanced creds, access to restricted content, and maybe even a message from Anorak himself.

🔴 Level 3: Master Gunters (up to 150%+)

Only the boldest reach this level. Master Gunters go beyond the mission brief: implementing duplicate detection, building backup systems, exporting legendary and mythic items into a cross-game artifact vault, and generating dashboards worthy of Halliday’s analytics rig. These challenges are optional—but finishing them earns you elite status, secret lore, and Easter Eggs that may just carry over to the next mission...

💡Pro Tip💡

Every step you complete increases your score, cred level, and the chance to unlock hidden narrative events and OASIS trivia woven into the logs and exports. Think of it like coding with XP boosts — the more you dive in, the more the game world responds.

🎬 json Files You need

🗂️ Updated Folder Structure:

You'll see the json files you need listed below. Copy the text and create those files in your directory
- - poke_data.json
  - minecraft_data.json
  - diablo_data.json
The rare_artifacts.json will be a file which will get the rare/unique items from each of the other games. You're responsible for writing this file yourself!

poke_data.json

[ { "item_id": "ITEM_MASTER_BALL", "name": "Master Ball", "item_type": "Poké Ball", "description": "Captures any Pokémon without fail.", "rarity": "Legendary", "max_stack": 1, "effects": ["100% catch rate"], "usable_in_battle": true, "usable_on_map": true, "cost": { "pokécoins": 0, "real_money_usd": 0 } }, { "item_id": "ITEM_GOLDEN_RAZZ", "name": "Golden Razz Berry", "item_type": "Berry", "description": "Significantly increases catch chance and loyalty.", "rarity": "Epic", "max_stack": 50, "effects": ["+35% catch bonus", "Increased buddy hearts"], "usable_in_battle": false, "usable_on_map": true, "cost": { "pokécoins": 80, "real_money_usd": 0.99 } }, { "item_id": "ITEM_INCENSE", "name": "Incense", "item_type": "Boost", "description": "Attracts Pokémon to your location for 30 minutes.", "rarity": "Uncommon", "max_stack": 9, "effects": ["Spawn rate increase", "Buddy activity bonus"], "usable_in_battle": false, "usable_on_map": true, "cost": { "pokécoins": 40, "real_money_usd": 0.49 } }]

minecraft_data.json

[ { "id": "bfb1-228e", "item_id": "minecraft:diamond_sword", "custom_name": "Blade of the End", "type": "Weapon", "description": "A sharp blade forged with Ender magic.", "durability": 1561, "max_durability": 1561, "enchantments": [ { "id": "minecraft:sharpness", "level": 5 }, { "id": "minecraft:unbreaking", "level": 3 }, { "id": "minecraft:looting", "level": 2 } ], "attributes": { "attack_damage": 7, "attack_speed": 1.6 }, "rarity": "Epic", "unbreakable": false }, { "id": "c20f-a97b", "item_id": "minecraft:elytra", "custom_name": "Skywings", "type": "Armor", "description": "Glider wings for aerial traversal.", "durability": 432, "max_durability": 432, "enchantments": [ { "id": "minecraft:mending", "level": 1 }, { "id": "minecraft:unbreaking", "level": 3 } ], "attributes": { "flight_enabled": true }, "rarity": "Legendary", "unbreakable": false }, { "id": "ff03-319d", "item_id": "minecraft:totem_of_undying", "custom_name": "Totem of the Ancients", "type": "Artifact", "description": "Prevents the holder from dying once.", "enchantments": [], "attributes": { "resurrects_user": true }, "rarity": "Legendary", "unbreakable": true }]

diablo_data.json

[ { "category": "legendary_items", "name": "Hellfire Amulet", "type": "Amulet", "description": "Grants passive powers from other classes.", "rarity": "Legendary", "level_required": 70, "class_restrictions": ["Wizard", "Necromancer"], "effects": ["+20% fire damage", "+10% cooldown reduction"], "flavor_text": "Forged in the depths of the Burning Hells, it pulses with barely-contained power." }, { "category": "legendary_items", "name": "Ring of Royal Grandeur", "type": "Ring", "description": "Reduces the number of items needed for set bonuses by one.", "rarity": "Legendary", "level_required": 45, "class_restrictions": [], "effects": ["Set bonus requirements reduced by 1", "+50 vitality"], "flavor_text": "The symbol of a forgotten dynasty, it whispers of untold privilege." }, { "category": "quest_items", "name": "Horadric Cache", "type": "Container", "description": "Contains random loot, materials, and legendary items.", "rarity": "Epic", "level_required": 50, "class_restrictions": [], "effects": ["Contains 3-5 random items"], "flavor_text": "A gift from the Horadrim, sealed with arcane sigils." }, { "category": "quest_items", "name": "Black Soulstone", "type": "Artifact", "description": "Contains the essence of the Prime Evil.", "rarity": "Mythic", "level_required": 100, "class_restrictions": ["All"], "effects": ["Unlocks the Infernal Gate", "Triggers endgame cutscene"], "flavor_text": "The vessel of ultimate corruption — shatter it at your own peril." }]

We're going to stay in the theme of Ready Player One, and visit the OASIS!! Get Ready!

🧠 Gunter Tasks: Level 1

✅ Level 1: Core Gunters (up to 80%)

Display Game Selection Menu

Options: Pokemon Go, Diablo IV, Minecraft
Load the appropriate JSON file

Read JSON File (game-specific)

Pokemon Go: flat list of item dictionaries
Diablo IV: nested dictionary with categories
Minecraft: UUID-keyed dictionary with attributes

Display Entries with Game-Specific Formatting

Custom output per game world (see examples below)

Add a New Item (Game-Specific Fields)

Prompt the user for different fields based on the game selected
Append the data correctly into the loaded JSON structure

Save JSON File

Use json.dump() with indent formatting and Unicode handling

⚙️ Gunter Tasks: Level 2

⚙️ Level 2: Advanced Gunters (up to 100%)

6. Log the Action to log.txt

Log should include timestamp, game name, item name, and action type

7. Delete Item

Remove an entry from the selected game's structure
Handle flat lists, nested lists, or key-based deletions
Log the deletion to log.txt

8. Search Items

Search by item name (case-insensitive)
Show full info if found, or print a not-found message

9. Secret Admin Menu

Hidden option that asks for a passcode
If correct, print the entire log.txt file in readable format

🧠 Gunter Tasks: Level 3

🧠 Level 3: Master Gunters (150%+)

10. Discovered By Field

Prompt user for a name when adding an item (store in JSON)

11. Duplicate Prevention

Check for existing item names before adding
Allow update or cancel if a duplicate is detected

12. Rare Artifact Export

Export all items of rarity Legendary, Mythic, or Epic to rare_artifacts.json
Include source_game, name, rarity, and key attributes

13. Summary Dashboard

Show how many items exist per game
Bonus: count by category (e.g., legendary vs quest vs weapons)

14. Backup System

Before saving changes, create a timestamped backup of the JSON file
- - Filename format: backup_<game>_YYYY-MM-DD.json

📂 Example Output

🔴 Pokemon Go:

Fields: name, item_type, description, rarity, max_stack, effects[], usable_in_battle, usable_on_map, cost (pokecoins, usd)

🔴 Diablo IV

Fields: name, type, description, rarity, level_required, class_restrictions[], effects[], flavor_text

🔴 Minecraft

Fields: uuid, item_id, custom_name, type, description, rarity, durability, max_durability, unbreakable, enchantments[], attributes{}

Skeleton Code

# game_tracker.py - Skeleton Function List Only
import jsonfrom datetime import datetime
# === LOAD GAME JSON ===def load_game_data(filepath):    # Load and return JSON data from the given filepath    pass
# === DISPLAY GAME ITEMS ===def display_items(game_name, data):    # Display all items based on game-specific structure    pass
# === ADD NEW ITEM ===def add_item(game_name, data):    # Prompt for new item fields depending on the selected game    # Append new item to the data    pass
# === DELETE ITEM ===def delete_item(game_name, data):    # Prompt for item name or ID and remove it from the data    pass
# === SEARCH ITEMS ===def search_items(game_name, data):    # Prompt for search term and find matching items    pass
# === SAVE GAME JSON ===def save_game_data(filepath, data):    # Save updated data back to JSON file with formatting    pass
# === EXPORT RARE ARTIFACTS ===def export_rare_artifacts():    # Search all games for items with rarity Legendary, Mythic, or Epic    # Write those to rare_artifacts.json    pass
# === VIEW SUMMARY DASHBOARD ===def view_summary():    # Load each game and count items per file    # Optional: break down by type or rarity    pass
# === LOG ACTION TO TEXT FILE ===def log_action(game, action, item_name):    # Append timestamped log entry to log.txt    pass
# === SECRET ADMIN MENU ===def access_admin_log():    # Prompt for secret code and display full log if correct    pass

Helper Code Snippits

To Timestamp

timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")

Check To See If File Exists

if os.path.exists(old_name):

To Delete File

os.remove(filename)

To Rename File

os.rename(old_name, new_name)

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