INFO1112 A1 - Just a friendly reminder
In this assignment, you'll be creating a basic application called "Jafr" (short for "Just a
friendly reminder"). This application helps multiple users manage their tasks and meetings
on a Unix-like OS (a popular choice of OS in industry where developers might share a
computer system or host web applications).
Jafr is Unix-friendly. This means that
1. Users interact with Jafr by typing commands in a command-line interface.
2. Jafr assumes that all the tasks and meetings are stored in text files that are otherwise
managed by users of the shared system. Users simply edit these files themselves when
they want to make changes outside of Jafr.
You will implement Jafr in Python and write a simple start up script in Bash. You will then
write I/O end to end tests for Jafr.
These specifications first describe each behaviour of Jafr. The final sections describe error
handling, how to write tests for Jafr and provide some hints.
Overview
Jafr is designed to run whenever a user opens their terminal at the beginning of their day.
Users can choose to view reminders that are relevant to the current day, or make changes.
Changes can include sharing reminders with other users.
There are two kinds of reminders: tasks and meetings.
Note
Students and tutors often have great suggestions to specifications. While no major
changes will be made after release, this assignment specification may be clarified up to
Week 4, 27/08/2023. Revised versions will be clearly marked and accompanying
announcements made to Edstem.
Setup
Jafr primarily relies on two text files for each user: tasks.md and meetings.md . These text
files are placed inside a master directory of the user's choosing.
The user chooses their master directory inside a JSON file called user-settings.json
located at ~/.jafr/user-settings.json . You may consider ~/.jafr/ a 'hidden' directory,
for Jafr's internal use only.
user-settings.json has a single key value pair storing the absolute path to the master
directory.
Sample user-settings.json :
Hint
Notice that the hidden directory .jafr/ is inside a user's home directory which can be
symbolically referred to by ~
.
You can fetch the path referred to by ~ in Python by using os.path.expanduser('~')
{
"master": "/home/dailystuff"
}
Help! What's a JSON file?
JSON is a universal file format for easy data reading and writing. There are two kinds of
data structures possible to write in JSON: objects and arrays.
Curly braces are used to define an object: a collection of name/value pairs (exactly like
a dictionary in Python). Square brackets are used to define an array: an ordered list of
values (exactly like a list in Python).
You may use Python's json library in your implementation to read JSON files. See
json.load()
Note
tasks.md and meetings.md for each user are given inside your scaffold. Assume the
user creates these themselves using their preferred text editor.
The ~/.jafr/ directory for each user is also given inside your scaffold. You do not
have to handle the case where ~/.jafr/user-settings.json is missing for any user.
Assume Jafr has some installation script that handles this, outside of the scope of your
assignment.
Text files containing reminders
The two text files inside the master directory for each user are as follows.
tasks.md
This text file contains dot pointed tasks with the following format. Dates follow DD/MM/YY, or
more precisely the C standard format %d/%m/%y (see the datetime docs). You will only ever
have to handle dates in the years 1969 - 2068 (inclusive).
For example
meetings.md
This text file contains dot pointed meetings with the following format. Times follow HH:mm,
or more precisely the C standard format %H:%M (see the datetime docs).
For example
- <task description> Due: <due date> <completion status>
- Complete INFO1112 A1 Due: 01/10/23 not complete
- Acquire Twitter Due: 30/10/23 complete
- Study linux namespaces Due: 30/09/23 not complete
Hint
Notice that a task must end with complete or not complete !
Moreover, the format implies that a task description should never contain the string
Due: . You do not have to handle the case where a user does this.
- <meeting description> Scheduled: <scheduled time> <scheduled date>
- Michael Mai's welcome party Scheduled: 18:00 25/08/23
- A1 marking meeting Scheduled: 09:00 01/09/23
Hint
You do not have to handle the case where a user places Scheduled: inside the
meeting description.
Further, as suggested by the links above, it will be easiest to use datetime to handle
all dates/times!
Usage
Jafr runs when jafr.py is executed by the Python interpreter. There is one command line
argument which will contain a path (absolute or relative) to a given passwd file. More on this
below.
For example
Jafr first displays relevant reminders (tasks followed by meetings), before showing a menu.
The menu contains the following.
A user chooses one option only.
This invokes the relevant behaviour, described below. If the user enters 6 , Jafr exits. After
completing a behaviour, Jafr returns to the menu.
For example
python3 jafr.py passwd
What would you like to do?
1. Complete tasks
2. Add a new meeting.
3. Share a task.
4. Share a meeting.
5. Change Jafr's master directory.
6. Exit
<menu num>
Just a friendly reminder! You have these tasks to finish today.
- Read INFO1112 A1 specs
- Fix bug 1 inside Jafr
- Study ELEC1601
These tasks need to be finished in the next three days!
- Shower by 03/08/23
- Organise paul's brithday by 03/08/23
You have the following meetings today!
- Michael Mai's welcome party at 18:00
- Resume writing workshop at 09:00
- Jafr dev meeting at 13:30
You have the following meetings scheduled over the next week!
- Barbenheimer marathon on 06/08/23 at 17:00
- Academic advice on 02/08/23 at 14:30
Displaying tasks
Jafr will write two views of tasks to standard output. The first is a view of all tasks that are
due today that have not been completed. The second is a view of all tasks that are due in
the upcoming three days that have not been completed.
Today's view has the following format.
For example
The upcoming three days' view has the following format.
For example
- ELEC1601 group meeting on 03/08/23 at 11:00
What would you like to do?
1. Complete tasks
2. Add a new meeting.
3. Share a task.
4. Share a meeting.
5. Change Jafr's master directory.
6. Exit
Just a friendly reminder! You have these tasks to finish today.
- <task description>
- <task description>
[...]
Just a friendly reminder! You have these tasks to finish today.
- Read INFO1112 A1 specs
- Fix bug 1 inside Jafr
- Study ELEC1601
These tasks need to be finished in the next three days!
- <task description> by <due date>
- <task description> by <due date>
[...]
These tasks need to be finished in the next three days!
- Shower by 03/08/23
- Organise paul's birthday by 04/08/23
Displaying meetings
Jafr will write two views of meetings to standard output. The first is a view of all events that
are scheduled today. The second is a view of all events that are scheduled in the upcoming
7 days.
Today's view has the following format.
For example
The upcoming 7 days' view has the following format.
For example
Note
Listed tasks are simply displayed in the order that they appear in tasks.md
Hint
The "upcoming" three days' view does not include the current day. Instead, "upcoming"
implies the three days following the current day.
You have the following meetings today!
- <meeting description> at <scheduled time>
- <meeting description> at <scheduled time>
[...]
You have the following meetings today!
- Michael Mai's welcome party at 18:00
- Resume writing workshop at 09:00
- Jafr dev meeting at 13:30
You have the following meetings scheduled over the next week!
- <meeting description> on <scheduled date> at <scheduled time>
- <meeting description> on <scheduled date> at <scheduled time>
[...]
You have the following meetings scheduled over the next week!
- Barbenheimer marathon on 06/08/23 at 17:00
- Academic advice on 02/08/23 at 14:30
- ELEC1601 group meeting on 03/08/23 at 11:00
Changing the user's master directory
Jafr allows the user to change their chosen master directory that contains tasks.md and
meetings.md .
The user enters an absolute path.
Jafr should replace the master object in ~/.jafr/user-settings.json appropriately.
Jafr then writes a confirmation message to standard output.
For example
Completing tasks
Jafr allows the user to mark tasks as completed. The user is first prompted for which task
they would like to complete. All not complete tasks are shown and numbered, in the order
they appear in tasks.md .
Note
Listed meetings are simply displayed in the order that they appear in meetings.md
Which directory would you like Jafr to use?
<absolute path>
Hint
See json.dump().
Master directory changed to <absolute path>.
Which directory would you like Jafr to use?
/home/paul/atreides_work
Master directory changed to /home/paul/atreides_work.
Hint
Jafr does not move tasks.md or meetings.md when changing the master directory.
You can assume the user handles this themselves. This also allows the user to have
multiple directories containing reminders and have Jafr focus on one at a time.
The user then selects task(s) by their number, separated by whitespace.
Jafr should modify tasks.md appropriately and write a message to standard output. Tasks
inside tasks.md are modified in place (in the same line).
For example
If all tasks are already complete then Jafr just writes the following to standard output.
Adding new meetings
Jafr allows users to add meetings. The user is first prompted for a meeting description, then
a date, then a time.
Jafr should then modify meetings.md appropriately. A meeting is appended to the bottom of
meetings.md as follows.
Which task(s) would you like to mark as completed?
1. <task description> by <due date:DD/MM/YY>
2. <task description> by <due date:DD/MM/YY>
[...]
<task num> [<task num> ... <task num>]
Marked as complete.
Which task(s) would you like to mark as completed?
1. Shower by 26/07/23
2. Invite friend by 27/07/23
3. Read INFO1112 A1 specs by 28/07/23
1 3
Marked as complete.
No tasks to complete!
Please enter a meeting description:
<meeting description>
Please enter a date:
<scheduled date>
Please enter a time:
<scheduled time>
Ok, I have added <meeting description> on <scheduled date> at <scheduled
time>.
##### added by you
The user is also prompted to optionally enter people to share the meeting with.
See more about sharing below.
Sharing tasks and meetings
Jafr allows users to share tasks or meetings from their own tasks.md and meetings.md
files with other users.
The user is first prompted for which task (or meeting) they would like to share. They are
shown all tasks (or meetings) regardless of completion or scheduled date.
The analogous meetings option contains numbered lines with <meeting description> on
<scheduled date> at <scheduled time> .
The user then selects one task (or meeting) by its number in the shown list.
The user is then prompted for the user IDs with whom they would like to share their
selection. They should not be shown their own user ID here.
The user then selects users by their user ID, separated by whitespace.
Jafr should then append the selected task or meeting to the other user's tasks.md or
meetings.md appropriately, as follows.
- <meeting>
Would you like to share this meeting? [y/n]:
Who would you like to share with?
<user ID> <user name>
<user ID> <user name>
[...]
Which task would you like to share?
1. <task description> by <due date>
2. <task description> by <due date>
[...]
<num>
Who would you like to share with?
<user ID> <user name>
<user ID> <user name>
[...]
<user ID> [<user ID> ... <user ID>]
A confirmation message is finally written to standard output ( Task shared. or Meeting
shared. ).
For example
How does Jafr find other users' home directories?
As you may have realised, in order for Jafr to append tasks/meetings to other users' .md
files, it must be able to locate the user-settings.json of each user. However the location
of user-settings.json depends on the current user's home directory! How will the
application find other users' home directories?
All users' home directories will be contained inside a given passwd file.
##### shared by <user name>
- <task>
Hint
The above heading ##### shared by <user name> is always created, regardless of
previous sharing history! You may assume the user will clean up their text file in their
own time, after noticing added meetings.
This applies to Adding new meetings in your own meetings.md as above too.
Which task would you like to share?
1. Fix bug 1 in Jafr by 08/08/23
2. Apply for research grant by 10/08/23
3. Shower by 03/08/23
1
Who would you like to share with?
0001 michaelmai
0002 hazemelalfy
0003 paulatreides
0004 prathampurohit
0001 0004
Task shared.
Note
Other users' tasks.md and meetings.md will be inside their own master directory, as
listed in their ~/.jafr/user-settings.json .
passwd file
You will be given a passwd file (it is already present in your scaffold). This is a text file where
each line denotes a different user on the shared computer system. Each line contains a
user's username, hashed password, user ID, group ID, user ID info, home directory, and
default shell.
Example passwd file:
Running Jafr when Bash is started
Jafr is designed to be run whenever a terminal running Bash is started. This section explains
how this can be achieved.
<username>:<password>:<user ID>:<group ID>:<user ID info>:<home
directory>:<default shell>
michaelmai:x:0001:8888:staff user:/michael:/bin/bash
hazemelalfy:x:0002:8888:staff user:/hazem:/bin/bash
paulatreides:x:0003:1112:student user:/paul:/bin/bash
prathampurohit:x:0004:8888:staff user:/pratham:/bin/bash
Help! What's a passwd file?
passwd files are universal in Unix-like systems. They always contain the above
information. This is how the OS remembers information about each user! However,
usually the file is stored at /etc/passwd . Take a look at /etc/passwd on your own
system!
You may notice that there is some unnecessary information in the passwd file. Jafr only
requires the username, user ID and home directory.
Hint
You can find the current user's username using the environ object from the os
module. https://docs.python.org/3/library/os.html#os.environ
This a dictionary containing environment variables, exposed by the os module. You
can access the username as follows.
os.environ['USER']
Please use this method. Others have been found to not work correctly on
Edstem.
Most Unix-like operating systems shipped with Bash allow users to customise a Bash script
that is run whenever Bash is started. This script is called .bashrc and is stored inside the
user's home directory (i.e. at ~/.bashrc ).
Once you have read the Usage section, have a go at modifying ~/.bashrc on your system
so that it runs Jafr when bash is started. Your submission must include a .bashrc file that is
able to do this.
You can check for the expected behaviour as follows.
1. Ensure your terminal runs bash.
2. Open a terminal window. On some systems you may need to run bash yourself (see
Update below).
3. See if Jafr displays its views correctly.
You may provide comments inside a readme.md to your marker about any expectations you
have for this to work correctly.
Error handling
Setup
You do not have to handle a missing ~/.jafr directory or ~/.jafr/user-settings.json
file for any user.
If either tasks.md or meetings.md are missing from the user's chosen master directory
then Jafr does not display any reminders or show the menu. Jafr writes the following
message to standard error before simply exiting.
Update
Some systems (which include Edstem's Arch and macOS) may not run .bashrc in
login shells. These are shells that are started upon logging in.
However, on any system you may start Bash again by simply executing bash . This will
be a "non-login" shell and will always run .bashrc .
Hint
In order to be awarded this section of the assignment, you may assume jafr.py and
passwd exists inside every user's home directory.
Remember .bashrc is a universal script. This means you can find plenty of help by
looking this up online.
If the user's chosen master directory does not exist, then Jafr does not display any
reminders or show the menu. Jafr writes the following message to standard error before
exiting.
Text files
tasks.md and meetings.md can contain any amount of text, and not necessarily only
tasks/meetings. A line is only considered a task or meeting if it is a dot point (the line starts
with - ).
For example, suppose tasks.md contains
Then there are five tasks recognisable by Jafr.
Missing tasks.md or meetings.md file.
Jafr's chosen master directory does not exist.
Note
Any amount of indentation is allowed before a dot point!
### School tasks
- Go to school Due: 01/08/23 not complete
- English homework Due: 02/08/23 not complete
- English homework introduction Due: 01/08/23 not complete
### Chores
- Take out trash Due: 01/08/23 not complete
##### shared by hazemelalfy
- Study linux namespaces Due: 04/08/23 not complete
Help! Why do I have to parse these files for dot points?
Jafr is designed to rely on text files that are otherwise freely editable by users. Different
users may have different methods of organising their tasks or meetings. Think of Jafr
as a parser that adapts to each user's context.
The re module may be helpful here.
Displaying tasks and meetings
Any malformed tasks or meetings are skipped when displaying them. No error message is
given.
Menu
If the user enters an invalid <menu num> , then Jafr prompts them with a single-line
explanation written to standard output, before allowing input again.
Completing tasks and adding new meetings
Any malformed tasks or meetings are skipped when displaying them. No error message is
given.
If the user enters an invalid option at any point, Jafr prompts them with a single-line
explanation written to standard output, before allowing input again.
Specifically, if the user enters an invalid;
<task num>
<meeting description>
<scheduled date>
<scheduled time> ,
then they are prompted with a single-line explanation.
Sharing tasks and meetings
Any malformed tasks or meetings are skipped when displaying them. No error message is
given.
If the user enters an invalid option at any point, Jafr prompts them with a single-line
explanation written to standard output, before allowing input again.
Hint
For those new to Python, a try block will be useful here to simply skip malformed
tasks/meetings after a dot point.
Hint
It is up to you what explanation is given. Our only requirement is that it fits in one line
and is appropriate.
Specifically, if the user enters an invalid;
<num>
<user ID>
then they are prompted with a single-line explanation.
You do not have to handle a malformed passwd file.
Changing the user's master directory
You do not have to handle any invalid user input here. If the chosen master directory ends
up being malformed in user-settings.json , the error handling in Setup above will at least
cover this when opening Jafr.
Writing your own tests
You will write I/O end-to-end tests for Jafr inside a directory tests/ . You must test
1. Displaying reminders.
2. Completing tasks.
3. Adding new meetings.
You do NOT have to test
1. Sharing tasks and meetings (including sharing after adding new meetings)
2. Changing the user's master directory
3. Running Jafr when Bash is started
It is not required in Assignment 1 for your tests to be automated via a testing Bash script.
(Doing so is still encouraged, for the bold and the brave. It may be required in Assignment 2,
so this is an opportunity to receive feedback.)
The tests/ directory will contain
.in files
.out files
a passwd file with test users of your own construction.
directories that will be "home directories" of your test users. Each of these require
an appropriate .jafr/user-settings.json file.
Hint
We recommend creating tests locally, then uploading them at once in a zip file to
Edstem. This will make it easier to handle the hidden directories and edit text files.
tasks.md and meetings.md files
A test is constructed by creating a .in file and a .out file. The filename prefix to these
should describe the test.
The .in file should contain all user input that will be written to standard input. The
corresponding .out file should contain output that is expected to be written by Jafr to
standard output.
The other files and directories present in tests/ are shared across all tests. You may write
three to five test users and a handful of test cases for each user. That is, each test case
should choose a user to rely on.
You can use your own tests as follows.
1. Run python3 jafr.py tests/passwd .
2. Run each test by manually inspecting the appropriate .in and .out file. Enter input
from the .in file. Compare your program's actual output to the .out file.
Any changes to tasks.md and meetings.md files made by your tests will not be captured
with a .in and .out file. You do not have to capture these changes in your tests.
You may include any comments about your testing in a test_readme.md to your marker if
you wish, such as current date and current user for each test.
See Daniel's video on Canvas for more about manual testing. See pinned post #284 on
Edstem for more help around changing users for each test while on your local machine.
Further hints and where to start
Hint
"Home directories" of your test users will need to be defined in your tests/passwd file.
While tests/passwd may not be used by your tests (which do not need to cover
sharing), it will still be useful for your marker.
Hint
The allowed libraries themselves provide hints on how you can make this assignment
easier! See Submission and marking below.
Here's a suggested order of what to work on in this assignment.
1. Draw a picture for yourself of how Jafr interacts with the filesystem.
2. Plan your code. What functions will you write?
3. Work on setup and displaying reminders. Write tests.
4. Work on making modifications to tasks/meetings. Write tests.
5. Work on sharing tasks/meetings. Write tests.
6. Work on .bashrc . You might be surprised how simple the solution is here, but it takes
some time to understand what is required.
7. Write final tests. Try to catch bugs in your own code and fix them.
Submission and marking
An Edstem workspace will be made available for you to test and submit your code. Public
test cases will be released up to 25/08/23. For Assignment 1, there will be no private or
hidden test cases.
Files to submit
Your submission should include
Optionally, your submission may include
Hint
You might have noticed that tasks and meetings are saved in Markdown files. These
are just text files (Unix users' favourite type of files), with the additional benefit of mark
up via very simple formatting. Markdown happens to be used everywhere across
software documentation, and so you can learn it if you like. However it's not necessary
at all for this assignment.
Hint
This hint only matters if you're aiming to submit automated end-to-end tests that
can run on Ed (not required).
Awkwardly, because of how Ed submission workspaces work, each test user's home
directory path in tests/passwd would need to begin with /home/tests/ .
Note the default user's home directory on Ed is /home .
jafr.py
.bashrc
tests/
You can remove staff's comments present in the scaffold's readme.md or just add your own
at the top of the file.
Allowed libraries
All other libraries are disallowed.
The following functions are banned inside the os module. See thread #468 on Edstem for
more discussion.
Marks weighting
This assignment will be marked out of 10. Each component is weighted as follows.
Displaying reminders: 20% (2 marks)
Completing tasks, adding new meetings and changing master directory: 30% (3 marks)
Sharing tasks and meetings: 20% (2 marks)
.bashrc : 10% (1 mark)
/tests 20% (2 marks)
Academic Declaration
By submitting this assignment, you declare the following:
readme.md
test_readme.md
sys
json
datetime
re
os
typing
os.walk()
os.fwalk()
os.listdir()
Warning
Any attempts to deceive the automatic marking system will result in an immediate zero
for the entire assignment. Negative marks can be assigned if you do not properly follow
the assignment description, or your code is unnecessarily or deliberately obfuscated.
I declare that I have read and understood the University of Sydney Student Plagiarism:
Coursework Policy and Procedure, and except where specifically acknowledged, the work
contained in this assignment/project is my own work and has not been copied from other
sources or been previously submitted for award or assessment.
I understand that failure to comply with the Student Plagiarism: Coursework Policy and
Procedure can lead to severe penalties as outlined under Chapter 8 of the University of
Sydney By-Law 1999 (as amended). These penalties may be imposed in cases where any
significant portion of my submitted work has been copied without proper acknowledgment
from other sources, including published works, the Internet, existing programs, the work of
other students, or work previously submitted for other awards or assessments.
I realize that I may be asked to identify those portions of the work contributed by me and
required to demonstrate my knowledge of the relevant material by answering oral questions
or by undertaking supplementary work, either written or in the laboratory, in order to arrive at
the final assessment mark.
I acknowledge that the School of Computer Science, in assessing this assignment, may
reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or communicate
a copy of this assignment to a plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program,
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INFO1112 友好的提醒
于 2023-09-11 11:45:27 首次发布