I developed this EuroMillions Simulator Python program as a practice test while attending a Python training course.

It offers an opportunity to cover a variety of Python programming competencies:

1. Control Flow Constructs:

   • For Loops: Utilized for iterating over sequences (like lists) or using a counter to execute a block of code multiple times, such as in the countdown timer (errorTimer function).
   • While Loops: Used to continuously execute a block of code as long as a certain condition remains true, evident in the main loop of the program that handles user inputs and game states.

2. Conditional Statements:

   • If/Else Conditions: Fundamental for decision-making in the program, helping to check conditions and execute code accordingly.
   • Match Case (Switch Case): A newer Python feature (requires Python >=3.10) used for pattern matching against specific values, useful in handling different game states and user inputs more cleanly.

3. Data Structures:

   • Lists: Essential for storing collections of items, such as user-selected numbers or randomly generated lottery numbers, and for handling these items using indices and loops.
   • Sorting and Searching: Demonstrated in managing and accessing list data, such as sorting lists or finding common elements between two lists.

4. Functions:

   • Defining and Calling Functions: The program modularizes functionality into functions, which helps in organizing code, making it reusable and easier to manage.
   • Arguments and Return Values: Functions in the program often take parameters and return data, exemplifying how to pass data to and from functions.

5. Error Handling:

   • Try and Except Blocks: Used to manage exceptions that may arise during runtime, particularly during input handling, which prevents the program from crashing due to invalid user input.

6. Python Standard Libraries:

   • os and time Libraries: Used for performing operating system dependent functionality like clearing the terminal and implementing delays.
   • random Library: Essential for generating random numbers, a critical part of the lottery number selection process.

7. External Libraries and Modules:

   • Using pip for Installing Libraries: The program requires external libraries, such as art and colorama for colored terminal output, demonstrating how to enhance Python's capabilities with additional modules.
   • Importing and Utilizing Modules: Shows how to import and use functions from both built-in and third-party libraries.

8. User Input and Output:

   • Input Handling: Capturing and processing user input is a core part of the program, allowing interaction through the terminal.
   • Output Formatting: Demonstrates various ways to format and display information back to the user, including handling text color and style in the terminal.

9. Best Practices:

   • Code Documentation: Through docstrings and comments, the program provides good examples of how to document Python code effectively, which is crucial for maintainability and readability.
   • Modular Design: Encourages the development of a modular coding approach, helping to keep code blocks small, manageable, and responsible for specific functionalities.

I share this code as-is in the hope that you might find it usefull for enhancing your Python programming skills.

To run the code, create a Python venv and then install the dependencies:

python -m venv venv

cd venv

.\venv\scripts\activate.bat

pip install -r requirements.txt

To start the program, run the Python script from your Windows terminal:

python euro_main_en.py