advent

Simple functional Python library designed for learning and problem solving purposes inspired by APL and Elixir programming languages.

Created mainly for solving Advent of Code challenges - hence the name advent.

Motivation

While Python is a very versatile and powerful programming language it lacks functional approach found in other languages.

For better demonstration let's look at the puzzle Calorie Counting from day 1 of Advent of Code 2022.

Regular Python with loops

with open('input.txt') as file:
    content = file.read()
    biggest = 0
    for chunk in content.split('\n\n'):
        total = 0
        for line in chunk.split('\n'):
            n = int(line)
            total += n
        if total > biggest:
            biggest = total
    print(biggest)

More functional oriented Python

with open('input.txt') as file:
    content = file.read()
    parsed = (map(int, line.split('\n')) for line in content.split('\n\n'))
    solution = max(map(sum, parsed))
    print(solution)

Python with advent

from advent import *

solver = (
    gn.read_file('input.txt')
    | tt.split_by('\n\n')
    | sq.map(
        tt.split_by('\n')
        | sq.map(int)
        | sq.sum()
    )
    | sq.max()
)

print(solver())

Elixir solution for comparision

File.read!("input.txt")
  |> String.split("\n\n")
  |> Stream.map(fn line ->
    line
    |> String.split("\n")
    |> Stream.map(&String.to_integer/1)
    |> Enum.sum()
  end)
  |> Enum.max()
  |> IO.puts()

Modules

• combinators (cb)
• functions (fn)
• generators (gn)
• operators (op)
• regex (rx)
• sequences (sq)
• textual (tt)

Features

• Clean interface (arguably)
• Functions piping
• Arguments binding
• Basic combinators

References

• Mastering Dyalog APL
• Learning APL and APL Cultivations by Stefan Kruger
• Elixir's pipe operator