Recursive way to create troubleshooting trees, with examples

nextstep.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding:utf-8 -*-
"""This program aims to provide tools to troubleshoot better

NOTE: Default option is yes to continue troubleshooting. No is for steps if
user has not done due diligence.

Assuming that categories only need to be chosen at the beginning and from
then on we can employ binary questions
"""


class NextStep:
    """ This class aims to provide tools to troubleshoot better.
    Object next_step
        statement (string): Is noun $x adjective $y? If no next steps,
            then this will be a sentence.
        result (bool): Yes/no answer to the question.
        yes_step (next_step): Call to another next_step object
        no_step (next_step): Call to another next_step object
        categories (list(next_step)): List of categories to choose from
    """
    def __init__(self, statement, yes_step=None, no_step=None,
                 categories=None, name=None):
        self.statement = statement
        self.no_step = no_step
        self.yes_step = yes_step
        self.categories = categories
        self.name = name

    def start(self):
        """Start with root troubleshooting step."""
        print(40 * '-')
        if self.yes_step and self.no_step:
            self.yesno_question()
        elif self.categories:
            self.choose_category()
        else:  # Reached the last troubleshooting step
            print(">>>", self.statement)

    def yesno_question(self):
        """Get the user's input and show resulting next troubleshooting step"""
        # Anything other than y is no
        result = input(self.statement + " (y/n)? ")
        if result == 'y':
            self.yes_step.start()
        else:
            self.no_step.start()

    def choose_category(self):
        """Choose from one of the categories"""
        print("~~~ Categories ~~~\n")
        for index, category in enumerate(self.categories):
            print('\t', index, ':', category.name)
        category_index = int(input('\nEnter your category as number: '))
        self.categories[category_index].start()


tshoot2 = NextStep("Then restart it.")
tshoot3 = NextStep("Then try searching for the error code.")

dhcp = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='dhcp')
vpn = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='vpn')
stp = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='stp')
vlan = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='vlan')
throughput = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                      name='throughput')
roaming = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                   name='roaming')
video_quality = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                         name='video_quality')
storage = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                   name='storage')
call_quality = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                        name='call_quality')
call_groups = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2,
                       name='call_groups')
dep = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='dep')
vpp = NextStep("Have you tried restarting it", tshoot3, tshoot2, name='vpp')

MX = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[dhcp, vpn], name='MX')
MS = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[stp, vlan], name='MS')
MR = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[throughput, roaming],
              name='MR')
MV = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[video_quality, storage],
              name='MV')
MC = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[call_quality, call_groups],
              name='MC')
SM = NextStep("What kind of tshoot?", categories=[dep, vpp], name='SM')

tshoot0 = NextStep("Which type of product?", categories=[MR,
                                                         MS,
                                                         MX,
                                                         MV,
                                                         SM,
                                                         MC])
tshoot0.start()

"""Client VPN
Categories: MX, MS, MR, MV, MC, SM
"""