Making with Code

Spelling Bee #

In this lab, you will learn about the different layers that make up a game.

[0] Play the Game #

👾 Let’s start by playing Spelling Bee: https://www.nytimes.com/puzzles/spelling-bee.

✅ CHECKPOINT:

✏️ As you play, complete the worksheet with your partner.

Consider, how would you build this game in Python?

[1] Setup #

💻 Start by going into your unit02_games folder.

cd ~/desktop/making_with_code/unit02_games

💻 Clone your starter code. Be sure to change YOUR-GITHUB-USERNAME to your actual Github username.

git clone https://github.com/the-isf-academy/lab_spellingbee_extended_YOUR-GITHUB-USERNAME
💻 cd into the lab
cd lab_spellingbee_extended_YOUR-GITHUB-USERNAME
💻 Enter the Poetry shell and install the requirements:
poetry shell
poetry install

This lab includes the following files to play the Spelling Bee game:

  • model.py
  • game.py
  • view.py
  • wordslist.py
  • helpers.py

In this version of Spelling Bee, the game is separated into 3 distinct layers:

  • game structure (model.py)
  • game logic (game.py)
  • game output (view.py)

[2] Implementing the Model #

classDiagram class SpellingBee { + word_list: [] str + letter_list: [] str + keyletter: str + guessed_words: [] str + check_guess(user_guess) boolean + check_keyletter(user_guess) boolean + check_length(user_guess) boolean + check_letters(user_guess) boolean + check_already_guessed(user_guess) boolean }

This a UML Diagram (Unnified Modeling Language) of the SpellingBee class.

  • row 1 - the class name
  • row 2 - the attributes with the data type
  • row 3 - the methods with the parameter and return data type

Remember, an attribute is a variable associated with a class and a method is a function associated with a class

💻 Open the file model.py and finish methods in the SpellingBee class by referencing the UML diagram.

💻 Test your code at the bottom of the file in the if __name == "__main__": section and run python model.py. This section is only called when file is ran, not when the file is imported.

if __name__ == "__main__":
    
    spelling_bee = SpellingBee(
        word_list = ["hat","cat"],
        letter_list = ["h","a","t", "c"],
        keyletter= "a"
    ) 

    # testing check_keyletter()
    print(spelling_bee.check_keyletter("rat"))
    print(spelling_bee.check_keyletter("rot"))

Using the in Keyword #

The keyword in can be very useful when working with strings:

🔁 Looping #

word = "cobra"
for letter in word:
    print(letter)

🔎 Checking for sub-strings using in #

word = "cobra"
if "a" in word:
    print("Here!")

word = "cobra"
if "z" not in word:
    print("Not here!")

[3] Implementing the view and the game logic #

Begin by running the game. 🤔 It works perfectly, but is incomplete!

---Welcome to Spelling Bee---

[RULES]
You can use any of these letters: ['T', 'C', 'O', 'L', 'I', 'N', 'M']
You must you use the letter M
Guesses must be more than 3 letters long

---Enter word:---
 > mint

  -correct!-

💻 Open the file game.py and view.py and complete the game logic. You will need to use the SpellingBee methods and the TerminalView methods.

  • ensure the game works like the actual game
  • only write print() statements in the TerminalView methods. Why do you think this is?
💻 Test your game after every change with
python game.py

[4] Deliverables #

⚡✨

Once you’ve successfully completed the game be sure to fill out this Google form.

💻 Push your work to Github:

  • git status
  • git add -A
  • git status
  • git commit -m “describe your game and your process here”

    be sure to customize this message, do not copy and paste this line

  • git push

[5] Extensions #

Choose one of the extensions below to improve your game!

Score #

In the original Spelling Bee, you get points when you guess correct words. To make this work, we will have to make changes in each of our three main files: models.py, game.py, and view.py.

💻 In model.py, implement a score feature in the SpellingBee() class. You will need to:

  • create an attribute
  • update a method

How can you test if it worked?

💻 Now, incorporate the score into view.py. Write a new method score() to print out the user’s score. It should take the parameter current_score.

  • which file should you call this method?

👾 Test our your game to see how the new feature works!

Advanced Scoring #

In the original Spelling Bee game, you get more points for longer words.

💻 Change your correct_word method so that it gives more points for higher words

Randomized Congratulations #

In the original Spelling Bee game, they give you a variety of different messages when you get a correct word, such as “Nice!”, “Good work!”, etc.

💻 Randomize which message the user receives when they get a word correct

You will need to use choice from the Random library.

Add this to the top of your code:

from random import choice

Here is an example of how to use choice:

from random import choice

mylist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
random_fruit = choice(mylist)

You can reference your auto-poetry lab from the data science unit for inspiration!

Currently, this game does not have a menu system. It’s up to you to implement one!

💻 Implement the menu from helpers.py into game.py. A user should be able to:

  • make a guess
  • view the rules
  • view their previous successful guesses
  • quit the game

File I/O #

💻 Keep a high score using a simple text file to save and update the score. Learn file handling here.