randLabList.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

"""
Given a student_list.txt file, randomly generates demo timeslots for a lab.

@author: keethsmith
"""

## Sample command to run:  python randLabList.py -t "04:05 PM" -f studentList.txt -d 10


import argparse
import datetime
import os
import sys
import re
import random
from datetime import datetime, timedelta

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
    description="automated random list generator for labs."
)
parser.add_argument(
    "-t",
    "--time",
    default="4:05 PM",
    type=str,
    help="lab start time, format: HH:MM AM/PM. Please account for quiz time -- if quiz is 20 min and start is 3:00PM then put 3:20PM as start time",
    required=False,
)
parser.add_argument(
    "-d",
    "--duration",
    default="10",
    type=str,
    help="duration of slot in minutes. Default is 10",
    required=False,
)
parser.add_argument(
    "-f",
    "--file",
    default="studentList.txt",
    type=str,
    help="file of student names, separated by new line",
    required=False,
)
args = parser.parse_args()

pTime = args.time.replace(" ", "")
startTime = datetime.strptime(pTime, "%I:%M%p")

if args.duration != None:
    duration = int(args.duration)
studentFile = None
if args.file != None:
    if os.path.isfile(args.file):
        studentFile = args.file
    else:
        print("Error: could not open " + str(args.file))
        sys.exit(-1)


with open(studentFile, "r") as f:
    studentList = f.read().splitlines()

# shuffle the student list
random.shuffle(studentList)


# ENTER STUDENTS THAT CANT TAKE THE QUIZ BEFORE LAB
chosen_ones = ["John Doe", "Jane Doe"]

for chosen_one in chosen_ones:
    if chosen_one in studentList:
        studentList.remove(chosen_one)
        studentList.insert(random.randint(5, len(studentList)), chosen_one)


for student in studentList:
    print(str(startTime.strftime("%I:%M %p")) + " - " + str(student))
    startTime = startTime + timedelta(minutes=duration)