matcher.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import random

people = ['connor',
          'seanie',
          'spencer',
          'meme',
          'ken',
          'tessa',
          'charles',
          'jan',
          'dennis',
          'matt',
          'michael']

random.shuffle(people)
buying_for = {}


def ensure_unique_match(person, match=None):
    if match is None:
        match = random.choice(people)
    while match in person:
        match = random.choice(people)
    while match in buying_for.values():
        match = random.choice(people)
    return match

for person in people:
    print('Matching for {}'.format(person))
    random_match = ensure_unique_match(person)
    buying_for[person] = random_match


for people in buying_for:
    print("{} should purchase for {}".format(people, buying_for[people]))