Hangman Python game help for MIT

[eotness]

Hi.

I'm trying to do the Hangman assignment for an online MIT course. However, I'm running into problems with the master code:

I've got the following code so far:

import urllib.request 

# Hangman game
#

# -----------------------------------
# Helper code
# You don't need to understand this helper code,
# but you will have to know how to use the functions
# (so be sure to read the docstrings!)

import random

WORDLIST_FILENAME = "http://bribre.net/edX/MIT6001/words.txt"

def loadWords():
    """
    Returns a list of valid words. Words are strings of lowercase letters.

    Depending on the size of the word list, this function may
    take a while to finish.
    """
    print("Loading word list from file...")
    # inFile: file
    #inFile = open(WORDLIST_FILENAME, 'r')
    inFile = urllib.request.urlopen(WORDLIST_FILENAME)
    # line: string
    line = inFile.readline()
    # wordlist: list of strings
    wordlist = line.split()
    print("  ", len(wordlist), "words loaded.")
    return wordlist

def chooseWord(wordlist):
    """
    wordlist (list): list of words (strings)

    Returns a word from wordlist at random
    """
    return random.choice(wordlist)

# end of helper code
# -----------------------------------

# Load the list of words into the variable wordlist
# so that it can be accessed from anywhere in the program
wordlist = loadWords()

def isWordGuessed(secretWord, lettersGuessed):
    '''
    secretWord: string, the word the user is guessing
    lettersGuessed: list, what letters have been guessed so far
    returns: boolean, True if all the letters of secretWord are in lettersGuessed;
      False otherwise
    '''
    lettersGuessed = ['a', 'a', 's', 't', 'r', 'm', 'c']
    if letter in lettersGuessed:
      True
    else:
      False
    print(isWordGuessed(secretWord, lettersGuessed))
    return isWordGuessed



def getGuessedWord(secretWord, lettersGuessed):
    '''
    secretWord: string, the word the user is guessing
    lettersGuessed: list, what letters have been guessed so far
    returns: string, comprised of letters and underscores that represents
      what letters in secretWord have been guessed so far.
    '''
    lettersGuessed = ['a', 'a', 's', 't', 'r', 'm', 'c']
    returns1 = '_a_ _';
    returns2 = '_ _c_';
    returns3 = 't_ _t';
    returns4 = 'ta_t';
    returns5 = 't_ct';
    print(getGuessedWord(secretWord, lettersGuessed))
    return getGuessedWord



def getAvailableLetters(lettersGuessed):
    '''
    lettersGuessed: list, what letters have been guessed so far
    returns: string, comprised of letters that represents what letters have not
      yet been guessed.
    '''
    s = 'bdefghijklnopquvwxyz'
    lettersGuessed = ['a', 'a', 's', 't', 'r', 'm', 'c']
    returns = s
    print(getAvailableLetters(lettersGuessed))
    return getAvailableLetters

def hangman(secretWord):
    '''
    secretWord: string, the secret word to guess.

    Starts up an interactive game of Hangman.

    * At the start of the game, let the user know how many 
      letters the secretWord contains.

    * Ask the user to supply one guess (i.e. letter) per round.

    * The user should receive feedback immediately after each guess 
      about whether their guess appears in the computers word.

    * After each round, you should also display to the user the 
      partially guessed word so far, as well as letters that the 
      user has not yet guessed.

    Follows the other limitations detailed in the problem write-up.
    '''
    return isWordGuessed
    return guessedWord
    return getAvailableLetters
    return hangman




# When you've completed your hangman function, uncomment these two lines
# and run this file to test! (hint: you might want to pick your own
# secretWord while you're testing)

# secretWord = chooseWord(wordlist).lower()
# hangman(secretWord)

Of them, only the first function of the master code has any outputs:

Loading word list from file...
('  ', 55909, 'words loaded.')

Can someone tell me what is the issue I'm running into? I know how to solve the problem as well as the solution, but trying to get there is virtually impossible. What I need to output is either a winning game or a losing game.

I don't want the solution, just an indication of what's going wrong so I can deduce how to fix it.

[dwblas]

Of them, only the first function of the master code has any outputs

The second function, getAvailableLet ters(lettersGue ssed) returns a variable that has not been declared, i.e. return getAvailableLet ters. The third function, hangman(secretW ord), has 4 returns, and only the first one executes as the function then exits. Finally, you do not get any input from the user so there are no guesses to analyze. A tutorial is a good next step to learn the basics for any Python program https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers

[eotness]

I'll look into that link. Though I think I should be a bit more explicit regarding what the functions are:

Function 1 is the loadWords function

Function 2 is the chooseWord function

Function 3 is the isWordGuessed function

Function 4 is the getGuessedWord function

Function 5 is the getAvailableLet ters function

and Function 6 is the hangman function.

I thought that getAvailableLet ters was declared (unless def doesn't actually declare a variable)?

[Oralloy]

Just a small observation - if people cannot figure out your functions in a few seconds, you need to include a block of documentation explaining purpose, invocation, and return values.

Trust me, for code that others must read, it is a huge bonus.