Python: Creating an unique variable to store information

Question

I am doing a program that simulates population growth, but I am not competent enough to understand how to assign a variable to a newly generated person.

Here's my (very much incomplete) code so far:

from random import seed
from random import randint
seed()

m = "male"
f = "female"

class Person:
    def __init__(self, gender, age):
        if gender == 0:
            self.gender = m
        else:
            self.gender = f
        self.age = age

def person_Birth():
    x = Person(randint(0,1), 0)
    return x

new_Person = person_Birth() #here's the problem

Every time i want to "cause birth" to a new human, how can i store his/her information separately i.e. automatically assign a new variable to store his/her information without explicitly stating a new variable?

I'm sorry if this is confusing to you, I am not sure of the correct terms.

I don't see anything wrong with this code. What are your expected results? — OneCricketeer
– OneCricketeer, Commented Nov 7, 2015 at 21:31
how about creating a list, and appending new person to the list every time you create one? Then you can reference the person by list index rather than by a specific variable. — zehnpaard
– zehnpaard, Commented Nov 7, 2015 at 21:34

Ben · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-07 21:48:07Z

1

You need to store the references to the people in a container structure like a list or a dictionary:

people = []
for _ in range(20):
    people.append(person_Birth())

Now the people list would contain 20 instances of Person, which you can either iterate over, or access each one individually with people[0] to people[19].

answered Nov 7, 2015 at 21:48

Ben

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2 Comments

idjaw Over a year ago

I totally mis-read the OP question. I don't understand where I came up with my solution. Your solution totally makes sense. +1.

Goton Over a year ago

Thought about something like this, but would have never discovered about it myself. Thanks a lot!

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