common.py

import os

FOLDER = "inputs"

def getDayInput(day, part=1, test=False, blankLines=False):
	"""
	Reads the input file for the given day and returns its contents as a list of strings.

	Parameters:
		- day (int): The day for which to read the input file.
		- part (int): Part 1 or 2 of the challenge. Defaults to 1.
		- test (bool): Whether to read the test input file for that day. Defaults to False.
		- blankLines (bool): Whether to include blank lines in the output. Defaults to False.

	Returns:
		- A list of strings (the lines of the input fule)
	"""

	if test:
		fileName = f"day{str(day).zfill(2)}-test{part}.txt"

	else:
		fileName = f"day{str(day).zfill(2)}.txt"

	filePath = os.path.join(FOLDER, fileName)

	with open(filePath, "r") as f:
		lines = f.read().splitlines()

		if not blankLines:
			lines = [line for line in lines if line]  # remove blank lines	

		return lines