Class and Object Terms

The foundations of Object-Oriented Programming is defining a Class

  • In Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), a class is a blueprint for creating an Object. (a data structure). An Object is used like many other Python variables.
  • A Class has ...
    • a collection of data, these are called Attributes and in Python are pre-fixed using the keyword self
    • a collection of Functions/Procedures. These are called *Methods when they exist inside a Class definition.
  • An Object is created from the Class/Template. Characteristics of objects ...
    • an Object is an Instance of the Class/Template
    • there can be many Objects created from the same Class
    • each Object contains its own Instance Data
    • the data is setup by the Constructor, this is the "init" method in a Python class
    • all methods in the Class/Template become part of the Object, methods are accessed using dot notation (object.method())
  • A Python Class allow for the definition of @ decorators, these allow access to instance data without the use of functions ...
    • @property decorator (aka getter). This enables developers to reference/get instance data in a shorthand fashion (object.name versus object.get_name())
    • @name.setter decorator (aka setter). This enables developers to update/set instance data in a shorthand fashion (object.name = "John" versus object.set_name("John"))
    • observe all instance data (self._name, self.email ...) are prefixed with "", this convention allows setters and getters to work with more natural variable name (name, email ...)

Class and Object Code

# Werkzeug is a collection of libraries that can be used to create a WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface)
# A gateway in necessary as a web server cannot communicate directly with Python.
# In this case, imports are focused on generating hash code to protect passwords.
from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
import json

# Define a User Class/Template
# -- A User represents the data we want to manage
class User:    
    # constructor of a User object, initializes the instance variables within object (self)
    def __init__(self, name, uid, password):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self.set_password(password)

    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid
    
    @property
    def password(self):
        return self._password[0:10] + "..." # because of security only show 1st characters

    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using str(object) in human readable form, uses getter
    def __str__(self):
        return f'name: "{self.name}", id: "{self.uid}", psw: "{self.password}"'

    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'Person(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password})'


# tester method to print users
def tester(users, uid, psw):
    result = None
    for user in users:
        # test for match in database
        if user.uid == uid and user.is_password(psw):  # check for match
            print("* ", end="")
            result = user
        # print using __str__ method
        print(str(user))
    return result
        

# place tester code inside of special if!  This allows include without tester running
if __name__ == "__main__":

    # define user objects
    u1 = User(name='Thomas Edison', uid='toby', password='123toby')
    u2 = User(name='Nicholas Tesla', uid='nick', password='123nick')
    u3 = User(name='Alexander Graham Bell', uid='lex', password='123lex')
    u4 = User(name='Eli Whitney', uid='eli', password='123eli')
    u5 = User(name='Hedy Lemarr', uid='hedy', password='123hedy')

    # put user objects in list for convenience
    users = [u1, u2, u3, u4, u5]

    # Find user
    print("Test 1, find user 3")
    u = tester(users, u3.uid, "123lex")


    # Change user
    print("Test 2, change user 3")
    u.name = "John Mortensen"
    u.uid = "jm1021"
    u.set_password("123qwerty")
    u = tester(users, u.uid, "123qwerty")


    # Make dictionary
    ''' 
    The __dict__ in Python represents a dictionary or any mapping object that is used to store the attributes of the object. 
    Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__. 
    Use the json.dumps() method to convert the list of Users to a JSON string.
    '''
    print("Test 3, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([user.__dict__ for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)

    print("Test 4, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([vars(user) for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)
Test 1, find user 3
name: "Thomas Edison", id: "toby", psw: "sha256$P4N..."
name: "Nicholas Tesla", id: "nick", psw: "sha256$2Tl..."
* name: "Alexander Graham Bell", id: "lex", psw: "sha256$fYQ..."
name: "Eli Whitney", id: "eli", psw: "sha256$2RN..."
name: "Hedy Lemarr", id: "hedy", psw: "sha256$oAc..."
Test 2, change user 3
name: "Thomas Edison", id: "toby", psw: "sha256$P4N..."
name: "Nicholas Tesla", id: "nick", psw: "sha256$2Tl..."
* name: "John Mortensen", id: "jm1021", psw: "sha256$VOr..."
name: "Eli Whitney", id: "eli", psw: "sha256$2RN..."
name: "Hedy Lemarr", id: "hedy", psw: "sha256$oAc..."
Test 3, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Thomas Edison", "_uid": "toby", "_password": "sha256$P4N37QKgVxijCnVS$ab82d2c1af6cadb5b6eb53bfe1e307171ad6b664cf85281b9eb3b8967543f184"}, {"_name": "Nicholas Tesla", "_uid": "nick", "_password": "sha256$2TlZ2QCPq26BIj4m$3aeaf24d16bfdcb4bca9cc26592ae0544c48e0b438e6f25a894caf23791597b2"}, {"_name": "John Mortensen", "_uid": "jm1021", "_password": "sha256$VOrnsHPYsTpOoYcj$22adca4d560046070e06bb9a11193aa72e5578298c0c4fc4a9fea59dfd29b294"}, {"_name": "Eli Whitney", "_uid": "eli", "_password": "sha256$2RNXN6a5cmQEIJFE$b0352b4b2dff4db68481775c012029b4dea1fb985c06fcb896b412ce8b7324eb"}, {"_name": "Hedy Lemarr", "_uid": "hedy", "_password": "sha256$oAc9qXICp5yogHi5$c0cdfea442d88ee7cdd95a3f8359e2bde722a73eeb577d05e4f6c0ed419eb307"}]
Test 4, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Thomas Edison", "_uid": "toby", "_password": "sha256$P4N37QKgVxijCnVS$ab82d2c1af6cadb5b6eb53bfe1e307171ad6b664cf85281b9eb3b8967543f184"}, {"_name": "Nicholas Tesla", "_uid": "nick", "_password": "sha256$2TlZ2QCPq26BIj4m$3aeaf24d16bfdcb4bca9cc26592ae0544c48e0b438e6f25a894caf23791597b2"}, {"_name": "John Mortensen", "_uid": "jm1021", "_password": "sha256$VOrnsHPYsTpOoYcj$22adca4d560046070e06bb9a11193aa72e5578298c0c4fc4a9fea59dfd29b294"}, {"_name": "Eli Whitney", "_uid": "eli", "_password": "sha256$2RNXN6a5cmQEIJFE$b0352b4b2dff4db68481775c012029b4dea1fb985c06fcb896b412ce8b7324eb"}, {"_name": "Hedy Lemarr", "_uid": "hedy", "_password": "sha256$oAc9qXICp5yogHi5$c0cdfea442d88ee7cdd95a3f8359e2bde722a73eeb577d05e4f6c0ed419eb307"}]

Hacks

Add new attributes/variables to the Class. Make class specific to your CPT work.

  • Add classOf attribute to define year of graduation
    • Add setter and getter for classOf
  • Add dob attribute to define date of birth
    • This will require investigation into Python datetime objects as shown in example code below
    • Add setter and getter for dob
  • Add instance variable for age, make sure if dob changes age changes
    • Add getter for age, but don't add/allow setter for age
  • Update and format tester function to work with changes

Start a class design for each of your own Full Stack CPT sections of your project

  • Use new code cell in this notebook
  • Define init and self attributes
  • Define setters and getters
  • Make a tester

Start Code for Hacks

from datetime import date

def calculate_age(born):
    today = date.today()
    return today.year - born.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (born.month, born.day))

dob = date(2004, 12, 31)
age = calculate_age(dob)
print("Age:", age)
Age: 18
   # def __init__(self,  gradyear): 
        #self._gradyear = gradyear

    #@property
    #def gradyear(self):
    #    return self._gradyear
        
    #@gradyear.setter
    #def gradyear(self, gradyear):
    #    self._gradyear = gradyear

#student = classOf(gradyear=2024)
#print("Graduation Year:", student.gradyear)
Graduation Year: 2024
#def calculate_age(born):
 #   today = date.today()
 #   return today.year - born.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (born.month, born.day))

#def classOF(age):
 #   today = date.today()
  #  tillgrad = 18 - age
   # gradyear = today.year + tillgrad
   # return gradyear

#dob = date(2006, 5, 16)
#age = calculate_age(dob)
#graduationyear = classOf(age)
#print("age:", age, "graduation year:", graduationyear)
age: 16 graduation year: <__main__.classOf object at 0x7fe59ccbcdf0>
#import json
#class Student:
    # constructor of a User object, initializes the instance variables within object (self)
 #   def __init__(self, name, dob, gradyear, age):
  #      self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object,
   #     self._dob = dob
    #    self._gradyear = gradyear
     #   self._age = age
    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    #@property
    #def name(self):
     #   return self._name
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    #@name.setter
    #def name(self, name):
     #   self._name = name
    # a name getter method, extracts birthday from object
    #@property
    #def dob(self):
     #   return self._dob
    # a setter function, allows dob to be updated after initial object creation
    #@dob.setter
    #def dob(self, name):
     #   self._dob = dob
      #  def calculate_age(born):
       #     today = date.today()
        #    return today.year - born.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (born.month, born.day))
    # a name getter method, extracts graduation year from object
    #@property
    #def gradyear(self):
     #   return self._gradyear
    # a setter function, allows grad year to be updated after initial object creation
    #@gradyear.setter
    #def gradyear(self, name):
     #   self._gradyear = gradyear
    #@property
    #def age(self):
     #   return self._age
# dob = date(2004, 12, 31)
# age = calculate_age(dob)
# print(age)
# place tester code inside of special if!  This allows include without tester running
#if __name__ == "__main__":
    # define user objects
 #   s1 = Student(name='Ava Carlson', dob='2006, 05, 16', gradyear='2024', age='16')
  #  s2 = Student(name='Alexa Carlson', dob='2006, 05, 16', gradyear='2024', age='16')
   # s3 = Student(name='Dylan Carlson', dob='2001, 08, 15', gradyear='2020', age='21')
   # s4 = Student(name='Grant Carlson', dob='2004, 03, 23', gradyear='2022', age='18')
    # put user objects in list for convenience
    #students = [s1, s2, s3, s4]
    # Find user
    #print("Test 1, find user 3")
    #s = tester(students, s3.gradyear, "2024")
    # Change user
    #print("Test 2, change user 3")
    #s.name = "Brian Carlson"
    #s.gradyear = "1995"
    #s = tester(users, s.gradyear, "2000")
    # Make dictionary
    #'''
    #The __dict__ in Python represents a dictionary or any mapping object that is used to store the attributes of the object.
    #Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__.
    #Use the json.dumps() method to convert the list of Users to a JSON string.
    #'''
    #print("Test 3, make a dictionary")
    #json_string = json.dumps([student.__dict__ for student in students])
    #print(json_string)
    #print("Test 4, make a dictionary")
    #json_string = json.dumps([vars(student) for student in students])
    #print(json_string)
# Werkzeug is a collection of libraries that can be used to create a WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface)
# A gateway in necessary as a web server cannot communicate directly with Python.
# In this case, imports are focused on generating hash code to protect passwords.
from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
import json

# Define a User Class/Template
# -- A User represents the data we want to manage
class User:    
    # constructor of a User object, initializes the instance variables within object (self)
    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, gradCLASS, dob, age):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
        self._dob = dob
        self._age = age
        self.set_password(password)

    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid


    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def gradCLASS(self):
        return self._gradCLASS
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def gradCLASS(self, gradCLASS):
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
    
    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def age(self):
        return self._age
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def age(self, age):
        self._age = age
    
    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def dob(self):
        return self._dob
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob

    @property
    def password(self):
        return self._password[0:10] + "..." # because of security only show 1st characters

    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using str(object) in human readable form, uses getter
    def __str__(self):
        return f'name: "{self.name}", id: "{self.uid}", psw: "{self.password}"'

    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'Person(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password})'
    
from datetime import date

def calculate_age(born):
    today = date.today()
    return today.year - born.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (born.month, born.day))


# tester method to print users
def tester(users, uid, psw, gradCLASS, dob, age):
    result = None
    for user in users:
        # test for match in database
        if user.uid == uid and user.is_password(psw):  # check for match
            print("* ", end="")
            result = user
        # print using __str__ method
        print(str(user))
    return result
        

# place tester code inside of special if!  This allows include without tester running
if __name__ == "__main__":

    # define user objects
    u1 = User(name='Dylan Carlson', uid='dylan', password='123dylan', gradCLASS='2020', dob=(2001, 8, 15), age=calculate_age(date(2001, 8, 15)))
    u2 = User(name='Grant Carlson', uid='grant', password='123grant', gradCLASS='2022', dob=(2004, 3, 24), age=calculate_age(date(2004, 3, 24)))
    u3 = User(name='Neil Carlson', uid='neil', password='123neil', gradCLASS='1988', dob=(1970, 7, 3), age=calculate_age(date(1970, 7, 3)))
    u4 = User(name='Leslie Carlson', uid='les', password='123les', gradCLASS='1988', dob=(1970, 9, 7), age=calculate_age(date(1970, 9, 7)))
    u5 = User(name='Ava Carlson', uid='ava', password='123ava', gradCLASS='2024', dob=(2006, 5, 16), age=calculate_age(date(2006, 5, 16)))

    # put user objects in list for convenience
    users = [u1, u2, u3, u4, u5]

    # Find user
    print("Test 1, find user 3")
    u = tester(users, u3.uid, "123neil", u3.gradCLASS, u3.dob, u3.age)


    # Change user
    print("Test 2, change user 3")
    u.name = "John Mortensen"
    u.uid = "jm1021"
    u.set_password("123qwerty")
    u.gradCLASS = '2024'
    dob = '11-2-16'
    u = tester(users, u.uid, "123qwerty", u.gradCLASS, u.dob, u.age)


    # Make dictionary
    ''' 
    The __dict__ in Python represents a dictionary or any mapping object that is used to store the attributes of the object. 
    Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__. 
    Use the json.dumps() method to convert the list of Users to a JSON string.
    '''
    print("Test 3, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([user.__dict__ for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)

    print("Test 4, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([vars(user) for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)
Test 1, find user 3
name: "Dylan Carlson", id: "dylan", psw: "sha256$FM5..."
name: "Grant Carlson", id: "grant", psw: "sha256$3ed..."
* name: "Neil Carlson", id: "neil", psw: "sha256$nlC..."
name: "Leslie Carlson", id: "les", psw: "sha256$AWx..."
name: "Ava Carlson", id: "ava", psw: "sha256$DAD..."
Test 2, change user 3
name: "Dylan Carlson", id: "dylan", psw: "sha256$FM5..."
name: "Grant Carlson", id: "grant", psw: "sha256$3ed..."
* name: "John Mortensen", id: "jm1021", psw: "sha256$zO5..."
name: "Leslie Carlson", id: "les", psw: "sha256$AWx..."
name: "Ava Carlson", id: "ava", psw: "sha256$DAD..."
Test 3, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Dylan Carlson", "_uid": "dylan", "_gradCLASS": "2020", "_dob": [2001, 8, 15], "_age": 21, "_password": "sha256$FM5IxSB9Rsh1DW5J$9ff634aeccd1fb127904c57996a67d4b1d4a930b70474098eaa5e43d0086043b"}, {"_name": "Grant Carlson", "_uid": "grant", "_gradCLASS": "2022", "_dob": [2004, 3, 24], "_age": 18, "_password": "sha256$3edmwyuMFhDHKQx3$77b8387dc56982f981ac0dfcdc4e1a0a72d9243e2ce0413cd0808b74baaa6c1e"}, {"_name": "John Mortensen", "_uid": "jm1021", "_gradCLASS": "1988", "_dob": [1970, 7, 3], "_age": 52, "_password": "sha256$zO5AqmrRc6Kagw1g$762e6dc9e23f7dcbd151a46008d418471b7828db8303194d0ada1f3a8644bb5c", "gradyear": "2024"}, {"_name": "Leslie Carlson", "_uid": "les", "_gradCLASS": "1988", "_dob": [1970, 9, 7], "_age": 52, "_password": "sha256$AWxoiDH2TTP3rinF$e5ccc7f4a0213304e272e9507de9f993bd05c2ce116b3ef7e5d07ca9ab757419"}, {"_name": "Ava Carlson", "_uid": "ava", "_gradCLASS": "2024", "_dob": [2006, 5, 16], "_age": 16, "_password": "sha256$DADoGWrNl3SvknCL$208197ae11241a75da4580513e43ea3fcba2e64cbc1d6dae4cf8ae625f584e96"}]
Test 4, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Dylan Carlson", "_uid": "dylan", "_gradCLASS": "2020", "_dob": [2001, 8, 15], "_age": 21, "_password": "sha256$FM5IxSB9Rsh1DW5J$9ff634aeccd1fb127904c57996a67d4b1d4a930b70474098eaa5e43d0086043b"}, {"_name": "Grant Carlson", "_uid": "grant", "_gradCLASS": "2022", "_dob": [2004, 3, 24], "_age": 18, "_password": "sha256$3edmwyuMFhDHKQx3$77b8387dc56982f981ac0dfcdc4e1a0a72d9243e2ce0413cd0808b74baaa6c1e"}, {"_name": "John Mortensen", "_uid": "jm1021", "_gradCLASS": "1988", "_dob": [1970, 7, 3], "_age": 52, "_password": "sha256$zO5AqmrRc6Kagw1g$762e6dc9e23f7dcbd151a46008d418471b7828db8303194d0ada1f3a8644bb5c", "gradyear": "2024"}, {"_name": "Leslie Carlson", "_uid": "les", "_gradCLASS": "1988", "_dob": [1970, 9, 7], "_age": 52, "_password": "sha256$AWxoiDH2TTP3rinF$e5ccc7f4a0213304e272e9507de9f993bd05c2ce116b3ef7e5d07ca9ab757419"}, {"_name": "Ava Carlson", "_uid": "ava", "_gradCLASS": "2024", "_dob": [2006, 5, 16], "_age": 16, "_password": "sha256$DADoGWrNl3SvknCL$208197ae11241a75da4580513e43ea3fcba2e64cbc1d6dae4cf8ae625f584e96"}]
# A gateway in necessary as a web server cannot communicate directly with Python.
# In this case, imports are focused on generating hash code to protect passwords.
from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
import json

# Define a User Class/Template
# -- A User represents the data we want to manage
class User:    
    # constructor of a User object, initializes the instance variables within object (self)
    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, gradCLASS, dob, age):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
        self._dob = dob
        self._age = age
        self.set_password(password)

    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid


    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def gradCLASS(self):
        return self._gradCLASS
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def gradCLASS(self, gradCLASS):
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
    
    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def age(self):
        return self._age
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def age(self, age):
        self._age = age
    
    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def dob(self):
        return self._dob
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob

    @property
    def password(self):
        return self._password[0:10] + "..." # because of security only show 1st characters

    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using str(object) in human readable form, uses getter
    def __str__(self):
        return f'name: "{self.name}", id: "{self.uid}", psw: "{self.password}"'

    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'Person(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password})'
    
from datetime import date

def calculate_age(born):
    today = date.today()
    return today.year - born.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (born.month, born.day))


# tester method to print users
def tester(users, uid, psw, gradCLASS, dob, age):
    result = None
    for user in users:
        # test for match in database
        if user.uid == uid and user.is_password(psw):  # check for match
            print("* ", end="")
            result = user
        # print using __str__ method
        print(str(user))
    return result
        

# place tester code inside of special if!  This allows include without tester running
if __name__ == "__main__":

    # define user objects
    u1 = User(name='Dylan Carlson', uid='dylan', password='123dylan', gradCLASS='2020', dob=(2001, 8, 15), age=calculate_age(date(2001, 8, 15)))
    u2 = User(name='Grant Carlson', uid='grant', password='123grant', gradCLASS='2022', dob=(2004, 3, 24), age=calculate_age(date(2004, 3, 24)))
    u3 = User(name='Neil Carlson', uid='neil', password='123neil', gradCLASS='1989', dob=(1970, 7, 3), age=calculate_age(date(1970, 7, 3)))
    u4 = User(name='Leslie Carlson', uid='les', password='123les', gradCLASS='1989', dob=(1970, 9, 7), age=calculate_age(date(1970, 9, 7)))
    u5 = User(name='Ava Carlson', uid='ava', password='123ava', gradCLASS='2024', dob=(2006, 5, 16), age=calculate_age(date(2006, 5, 16)))

    # put user objects in list for convenience
    users = [u1, u2, u3, u4, u5]

    # Find user
    print("Test 1, find user 3")
    u = tester(users, u3.uid, "123neil", u3.gradCLASS, u3.dob, u3.age)


    # Change user
    print("Test 2, change user 3")
    u.name = "John Mortensen"
    u.uid = "jm1021"
    u.set_password("123qwerty")
    u.gradCLASS = '2024'
    dob = '11-2-16'
    u = tester(users, u.uid, "123qwerty", u.gradCLASS, u.dob, u.age)


    # Make dictionary
    ''' 
    The __dict__ in Python represents a dictionary or any mapping object that is used to store the attributes of the object. 
    Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__. 
    Use the json.dumps() method to convert the list of Users to a JSON string.
    '''
    print("Test 3, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([user.__dict__ for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)

    print("Test 4, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([vars(user) for user in users]) 
    print(json_string)
# this may be useful for our project 
from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
from datetime import date
import json

class User:    

    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, dob, gradCLASS):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self.set_password(password)
        self._dob = dob
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
    
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid
    
    # dob property is returned as string, to avoid unfriendly outcomes
    @property
    def dob(self):
        dob_string = self._dob.strftime('%m-%d-%Y')
        return dob_string
    
    # dob should be have verification for type date
    @dob.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob
        
    # age is calculated and returned each time it is accessed
    @property
    def age(self):
        today = date.today()
        return today.year - self._dob.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (self._dob.month, self._dob.day))
    
    @property
    def gradCLASS(self):
        return self._gradCLASS
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @gradCLASS.setter
    def gradCLASS(self, gradCLASS):
        self._gradCLASS = gradCLASS
    # dictionary is customized, removing password for security purposes
    @property
    def dictionary(self):
        dict = {
            "name" : self.name,
            "uid" : self.uid,
            "dob" : self.dob,
            "age" : self.age,
            "class" : self.gradCLASS
        }
        return dict
    
    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using json dumps, this is ready for API response
    def __str__(self):
        return json.dumps(self.dictionary)
        

if __name__ == "__main__":
    u1 = User(name='Thomas Edison', uid='toby', password='123toby', dob=date(1847, 2, 11), gradCLASS='1868')
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u1, "\n") 
    print("Raw Variables of object:\n", vars(u1), "\n") 
    print("Raw Attributes and Methods of object:\n", dir(u1), "\n")
JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Thomas Edison", "uid": "toby", "dob": "02-11-1847", "age": 175, "class": "1868"} 

Raw Variables of object:
 {'_name': 'Thomas Edison', '_uid': 'toby', '_password': 'sha256$GcBNimEV42wPOg90$5fe94d9021882b08726cd3f42225238a3a6ab0b7fa4524d2229d14e638cab406', '_dob': datetime.date(1847, 2, 11), '_gradCLASS': '1868'} 

Raw Attributes and Methods of object:
 ['__class__', '__delattr__', '__dict__', '__dir__', '__doc__', '__eq__', '__format__', '__ge__', '__getattribute__', '__gt__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__init_subclass__', '__le__', '__lt__', '__module__', '__ne__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__setattr__', '__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', '__weakref__', '_dob', '_gradCLASS', '_name', '_password', '_uid', 'age', 'dictionary', 'dob', 'gradCLASS', 'is_password', 'is_uid', 'name', 'set_password', 'uid']