Public Restrooms Are Scary

Tagged as: Amusing, Geek, life in code, Personal, Python, Useful Nov 05

# use_public_toilet.py
#
# Algorithm for using a public toilet.  Success will vary based on the
# toilet/situation (obviously).  However, this seems to be a generally safe
# way to approach using a toilet.
#
# Handles both male and female needs as well as exceptional cases such as
# no available toilet, getting dirty, and entering the wrong gender's
# bathroom.
#
# Algorithm is roughly:
# 1) Enter bathroom
# 2) Find suitable toilet
# 3) Protect yourself if it's a stall toilet that you sit on
# 4) Do your business
# 5) Finish up

import common_sense

# Sometimes even nature's calling cannot overrule common sense
# Including when you walk into the wrong bathroom
if (bathroom.is_disgusting or bathroom.is_dangerous
    or bathroom.gender != you.gender):
    you.hold('your waste')
    return # (i.e., get out of there!)

my_toilet = None
# Only male urinaters get to use the urinals, at least in the common case
# (Abnormal cases are unhandled here)
if you.need() == 'urinate' and you.gender == 'male':
    for urinal in bathroom.urinals:
        if not urinal.empty:
            continue
        my_toilet = urinal

# If you are not a male urinating or there is no urinal available
if my_toilet is None:
    # Time to look for the stall
    for stall in bathroom.stalls:
        # Use an empty toilet that can also be initialized to a clean state
        if not stall.empty or (not toilet.clean and not toilet.works):
            continue
        you.enter('Stall %s' % stall)
        my_toilet = stall
        break
    else:
        # You could not find a suitable stall to use
        return

    you.wipe('toilet seat')
    you.put('toilet seat cover')
    while not toilet.seat_covered():
        you.put('toilet paper')

# Finally the time has come to get down to business
try:
    you.sit()
    you.do_your_business()
except TouchDirtyException:   # Don't touch the toilet!
    you.cry()

you.flush(my_toilet)
you.wash_hands()
you.leave()
if you.satisfied:             # Be happy, you're done
    you.smile()

EAFP

Tagged as: Life, Programming, Python Sep 10

There are a couple of types of people in the world. There are some that want to make sure that all is well before they proceed and then there are those that will just do things without thinking about the consequences.

There is a related idea in computer programming. You can check all of the variables, program state, and other circumstances. When everything is kosher, you go for it. And hopefully you are successful. The problem with this, though, is that you might forget to check something. Perhaps you haven’t accounted for everything as you should have. Then what? Then disaster! (Or something like that.)

On the other hand, there is another idea that can be used. It is the idea (at least in Python) that it is Easier to Ask for Forgiveness than Permission (i.e., EAFP). This way of dealing with errors is to go for the gusto and then deal with problems as they arise.

I need a little more EAFP.