Cracker Jokes as a Service with Python

Christmas crackers from the local supermarket often have the worst jokes. We say, 'there must be a better way'. Save up your favourite jokes this Christmas and hear the sound of guffaws 🤣 , not the silence of cringing faces 😬 .

It's database-backed, it's on the Web, it's in Python...and we didn't have to write a line of Javascript -- yep, we used Anvil:

Canvas Component

The anvil Canvas component gives us access to the browser's drawing APIs, along with easy mouse events -- so that seemed like the perfect way to build this app:

def draw_background(self):
    img = URLMedia('_/theme/cracker.png')
    c = self.canvas
    m = self.margin
    c.draw_image(img, m, 0, c.get_width() - 2*m, c.get_height())

def canvas_mouse_up(self, x, y, button, **event_args):
    """This method is called when a mouse button is pressed on this component"""
    if (x < self.margin):
        self.idx = (self.idx - 1) % len(self.jokes)
    elif x > self.w - self.margin:
        self.idx = (self.idx + 1) % len(self.jokes)
    self.write_joke()

Batteries Included

Anvil's Python in the browser comes with Python's batteries included philosophy, from your favourite python libraries to f-strings.

import itertools
import textwrap
import random


class TellJokes(TellJokesTemplate):

    def __init__(self, **properties):
        self.init_components(**properties)

        self.jokes = list(app_tables.crackers.search())
        self.idx = 0
        self.QorA = itertools.cycle('QA') # switch between Q and A
        self.margin = 80
        self.laughing = '🤣😂😹😆🙈'
        self.text = 'Click To Start Telling Jokes 🎅'

    def write_joke(self, text=None):
        if text is None:
            QorA = next(self.QorA)
            text = f"{QorA}. {self.jokes[self.idx][QorA]}"
            if QorA is 'A':
                text += ' ' + random.choice(self.laughing) # add a random laugh emoji

        # wrap lines for readability
        wrapped_text = textwrap.wrap(text, int(self.canvas.get_width() - 2*self.margin)/35)))
        ...

Share the laughter

I used the Anvil Data Tables service to create a database, then built a UI with a DataGrid component. Now I can send the app to the family -- let's hope they come up with some better jokes than I did 🙄 .

View the source code

Want to play with the app yourself? Check out the source code:

Open source code >>

Comments

[euse44]

One of the standout benefits of choosing Bright-Star Fireworks is their commitment to safety. Their products meet rigorous safety standards and come with clear usage instructions, ensuring your celebration is as safe as it is thrilling. The knowledgeable staff at Bright-Star are always ready to assist buy fireworks in tasmania, helping you select fireworks that suit your preferences and providing expert tips on safe handling and setup. This personal touch ensures you’ll feel confident and prepared when it’s time to light up the night.