gistfile1.py

import random
from pprint import pprint as p

CHOICES = ['G', 'G', 'G', 'G', 'B', 'B']

ANSWERS = [
    'BGBBB',
    'GBGBBB',
    'GBBBBB'
]

ATTEMPTS = 2000

def run():
    print """
####################################################
#
# Reproducing 'dice roll' from the video
# [27C3] (en) Cognitive Psychology for Hackers
# See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJAuAuGboOM (14:00m)
#
# cal.leeming [at] simplicitymedialtd.co.uk
# 03/02/2013
#
####################################################

- Choices: %s
- Answers: %s
- Attempts: %s

Place your bets..

""" % (
CHOICES, ANSWERS, ATTEMPTS
)


    # find the maximum string length of our answers
    maxlen = max(ANSWERS, key=lambda x: len(x))

    # sort our answers by shortest first
    ans = sorted(ANSWERS, key=lambda x: len(x))

    # temp assign
    results = []
    count = 0

    while True:
        # check if we are finished
        if len(results) >= ATTEMPTS:
            break

        # increment counters
        count += 1

        # generate a random string based on the maximum length
        # of our answers
        r = map(lambda x: random.choice(CHOICES), maxlen)
        r = "".join(r)

        # attempt to match one of our answers, starting with shortest first
        for x in ans:
            # trim the result down to the same size as the answer
            if r[:len(x)] == x:
                o = (x, count)
                results.append(o)
                count = 0

    # calculate total iterations
    total_iter = sum(map(lambda x: x[1], results))

    # calculate total found for each answer
    final = []
    for x in ans:
        r = filter(lambda s: s[0] == x, results)
        found = len(r)
        hits = sum(map(lambda s: s[1], r))
        o = ( x, hits, found, )
        final.append(o)

    # find our winner
    winner = sorted(final, key=lambda x: x[2])[-1][0]
    print "Our winner is: %s" % ( winner, )

    # header sprintf
    h = "%-10s %-10s %-15s %-15s"
    print h % ( "Answer", "Found", "Total chance", "Compared chance" )

    # print stats
    for x in final:
        answer = x[0]
        hits = x[1]
        found = x[2]

        # calculate percentage against total iters
        perc1 = (float(found) / float(total_iter) ) * 100
        perc1 = "%.3f%%" % ( perc1, )

        # calculate percentage against total attempts
        perc2 = (float(found) / float(ATTEMPTS) ) * 100
        perc2 = "%.3f%%" % ( perc2, )

        print h  % ( answer, found, perc1, perc2, )

run()