Reed and Leo: Almost Purely Functional Python

cut_sticks.py

def nest_while(f, value, condition):
    '''
    Given function, initial value, and break condition,
    calls function with the initial value, and repeats calling
    the function with the return value of the previous call,
    until the condition returns false.
    '''
    if not condition(value):
        return value
    return nest_while(f, f(value), condition)

def cut_sticks(sticks):
    '''
    Given list of sticks, cut them by the shortest and yield
    the remaining sticks.
    '''
    print(len(sticks))

    return [stick - shortest for shortest in [min(sticks)] for stick in sticks if stick > shortest]


if __name__ == '__main__':
    num_sticks = int(input())
    sticks = [int(s) for s in input().split()]

    nest_while(f=cut_sticks, value=sticks, condition=lambda c: len(c) > 0)