github-issues.py

# Packages and modules are imported to the scope using the import statement.
# If you wanted just a particular object from a module/package you can use
# the from <module> import <object>
import sys
import requests

# There are no constants in Python, still we can use a naming convention to
# imply that to the user of a library.
BASE_URL = "https://api.github.com"


# Functions are defined by the def keyword.
def get_issues(user, repository):
    """
    Returns the latest 20 issues for the given repository.
    """
    # Remember every thing is an object in Python. Objects have quite useful
    # methods like the join in the following statement for the String object.
    url = '/'.join([BASE_URL, "repos", user, repository, "issues"])
    response = requests.get(url)
    if response.json:
        return response.json


def display_issues(issues, details=["number", "title"]):
    """
    Prints the given details of the list of issues.
    """
    print("\t".join(details))
    for issue in issues:
        # Hmmm, that is a complex statement. Break it down and you will see
        # how list-comprehensions simplyfy things. A list comprehension can
        # be created by [value for value in iterable]
        print ("\t".join([str(issue[key]) for key in details]))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Handling exceptions in Python. Note catching exceptions can be used
    # for control flow in Python.
    try:
        user = sys.argv[1]
        repository = sys.argv[2]
        display_issues(get_issues(user, repository))
    except IndexError:
        print("Usage: github-issues.py <user> <repository>")