""" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_fence_cipher """ def encrypt(input_string: str, key: int) -> str: """ Shuffles the character of a string by placing each of them in a grid (the height is dependent on the key) in a zigzag formation and reading it left to right. >>> encrypt("Hello World", 4) 'HWe olordll' >>> encrypt("This is a message", 0) Traceback (most recent call last): ... ValueError: Height of grid can't be 0 or negative >>> encrypt(b"This is a byte string", 5) Traceback (most recent call last): ... TypeError: sequence item 0: expected str instance, int found """ temp_grid: list[list[str]] = [[] for _ in range(key)] lowest = key - 1 if key <= 0: raise ValueError("Height of grid can't be 0 or negative") if key == 1 or len(input_string) <= key: return input_string for position, character in enumerate(input_string): num = position % (lowest * 2) # puts it in bounds num = min(num, lowest * 2 - num) # creates zigzag pattern temp_grid[num].append(character) grid = ["".join(row) for row in temp_grid] output_string = "".join(grid) return output_string def decrypt(input_string: str, key: int) -> str: """ Generates a template based on the key and fills it in with the characters of the input string and then reading it in a zigzag formation. >>> decrypt("HWe olordll", 4) 'Hello World' >>> decrypt("This is a message", -10) Traceback (most recent call last): ... ValueError: Height of grid can't be 0 or negative >>> decrypt("My key is very big", 100) 'My key is very big' """ grid = [] lowest = key - 1 if key <= 0: raise ValueError("Height of grid can't be 0 or negative") if key == 1: return input_string temp_grid: list[list[str]] = [[] for _ in range(key)] # generates template for position in range(len(input_string)): num = position % (lowest * 2) # puts it in bounds num = min(num, lowest * 2 - num) # creates zigzag pattern temp_grid[num].append("*") counter = 0 for row in temp_grid: # fills in the characters splice = input_string[counter : counter + len(row)] grid.append([character for character in splice]) counter += len(row) output_string = "" # reads as zigzag for position in range(len(input_string)): num = position % (lowest * 2) # puts it in bounds num = min(num, lowest * 2 - num) # creates zigzag pattern output_string += grid[num][0] grid[num].pop(0) return output_string def bruteforce(input_string: str) -> dict[int, str]: """Uses decrypt function by guessing every key >>> bruteforce("HWe olordll")[4] 'Hello World' """ results = {} for key_guess in range(1, len(input_string)): # tries every key results[key_guess] = decrypt(input_string, key_guess) return results if __name__ == "__main__": import doctest doctest.testmod()