gistfile1.py

import operator

def version_compare(comparer):
    def compare_from(v1):
        def compare_to(v2):
            return comparer(map(int, v1.split(".")),
                              map(int, v2.split("."))) and \
                not any(v2.endswith(e) for e in ["beta", "alpha"])
        return compare_to
    return compare_from

# Used when no wild cards present
less_than = version_compare(operator.lt)
less_than_equal = version_compare(operator.le)
greater_than = version_compare(operator.gt)
greater_than_equal = version_compare(operator.ge)
equal = version_compare(operator.eq)


def wildcard_comparer(v1):
    mapping = []
    for elem in v1.split("."):
        if elem.isdigit():
            mapping.append(equal(elem))
        elif elem in ["X", "*"]:
            mapping.append(lambda x: True)
    def compare_to(v2):
        return all(map(c(v2), mapping))
    return compare_to