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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Dictionaries Teacher Stats

Posted by Terry Felder
Terry Felder
1,738 Points

WHY?!?! do MY codes not work

my code never wants to work!! i have to look up other peoples code suggestions to use and answers to move on!! it work fine in my repl.it prints the list out everytime from the dictionary why is it not good enough for treehouse??

please excuse frustration but as you all know we put alot of time and thought into our codes so its very upsetting just seeing the Bummer: Try again! with every attempt.

p.s and for the most part there have been times were my code was perfect it didnt work i look online find someone with the same exact format just with one or two different variable names and it works just fine....like i said i wouldnt maybe be upset if i would get a HELPFUL!! message other than Bummer: Try again! ...that tells me treeehouse cant keep up with me..i dont get any error message other than that!! please please please help....

p.p.s to lazy to spell check right now. not stupid just typing fast lol ....

teachers.py 
# The dictionary will look something like:
#{'Andrew Chalkley': ['jQuery Basics', 'Node.js Basics'],
# 'Kenneth Love': ['Python Basics', 'Python Collections']}
#
# Each key will be a Teacher and the value will be a list of courses.
#
# Your code goes below here.
# dic_school = {'Andrew Chalkley': ['jQuery Basics', 'Node.js Basics'],
 # 'Kenneth Love': ['Python Basics', 'Python Collections']}

def num_teachers(school):
    teacher = 0
    for num_of_teach in school:
        teacher += 1
    return teacher  

def num_courses(teachers):
    return sum(len(v) for v in teachers.values())

def courses(teachers):
    lis = []
    for classes in teachers.values():
        for x in classes:
        new = lis.append(x)
    return lis

2 Answers

Viraj Deshaval
Viraj Deshaval
4,874 Points
Viraj Deshaval
Viraj Deshaval
4,874 Points

Hi Terry, First of don't get frustrated because this happens to all and the way we should go about is to try and test our concepts what we learned using code challenges. If we don't get through we have a wonderful community out here to help you. I executed your code and it worked like a champ for me see what I did.

def num_teachers(school):
    teacher = 0 
    for num_of_teach in school.keys(): 
        teacher += 1 
    return teacher


def num_courses(teachers): 
    return sum(len(v) for v in teachers.values())

def courses(teachers): 
    lis = [] 
    for classes in teachers.values(): 
        for x in classes: 
            new = lis.append(x) 
    return lis

the only thing was missing is 'keys()' in the 'num_teachers' function.

for num_of_teach in school.keys():

Try now it should work. Treehouse is asking this challenge to test your knowledge and its great to solve this challenges you solved a lot. Try for other two parts as well. Good luck.

Terry Felder
Terry Felder
1,738 Points

Viraj Deshaval

WOW!!! thank you sooo much you jjust blew my mind...i got so caught up in the function i was doing i didnt bother to take a look at my other functions. i just took in all you said an learned a huge lesson!i get so caught up in the bits and forget to look at the whole picture thank you i will be sure to keep this in mind for future reference! thanks for the motivation.....ill just say i cant thank you enough lol

Viraj Deshaval
Viraj Deshaval
4,874 Points
Viraj Deshaval
Viraj Deshaval
4,874 Points

It's my pleasure. You can mark it as best answer so that others can even find it as useful. Cheers :)

Cooper Runstein
Cooper Runstein
11,850 Points
Cooper Runstein
Cooper Runstein
11,850 Points

Viraj nailed his response and he found the correct error, I'd just like to offer my two cents. This might sound kind of terrible, but you're always wrong when something goes wrong while programming. What I mean by that, is the errors that you make are due to the fact that you're a human, and you make mistakes. A computer doesn't make mistakes; a for loop will always run if done properly, but if you type it wrong, it won't. I know we all want to be right all the time, but by humbling yourself and realizing that the computer is always the right one saved me a lot of frustration. It made me slow down and realize that there were about 5 things that I consistently would do wrong, not intentionally, just as part of learning and being new at something. It really helps to never copy and paste code, and to only move on when you 100% understand not just the code, but the mistake you made and what you did wrong. Eventually you'll be a master at noticing your own mistakes, but it requires you taking the time to, as you put it, understand why the few variable name changes made a difference.

Also, I too get frustrated at the generic responses treehouse challenges give you, unfortunately they can't account for all the mistakes that can be made. It helps sometimes to write a few tests first and create your own feedback for yourself, not only is it a really good practice to learn if you want to be employed, but it helps you grow as a programmer a lot too.

Terry Felder
Terry Felder
1,738 Points

Cooper, when you put it like that your absolutely right i am a straight forward person so what you said wasn't terrible at all its fact...and your right i gotta stop getting mad at the computer, and start paying attention to my mistake patterns...