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Python Dates and Times in Python (2014) Let's Build a Timed Quiz App Timestamp Ordering

arg in args loop not working

For some reason the arg in args loop is not succesfully putting in the arguemnt to the append function.

I looked online and previous lessons but could not see why the arg loop would not be working.

Thanks in advance for help!

timestamp.py
# If you need help, look up datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp()
# Also, remember that you *will not* know how many timestamps
# are coming in.
datetimes = []

def timestamp_oldest(*args):

    for arg in args:
        datetimes.append(arg)
        return datetimes

    datetimes.sort()

    return datetimes[0]

Have since updated the code. For clarity sake see below.

import datetime datetimes = []

def timestamp_oldest(*args):

for arg in args:
    arg = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(arg)
    datetimes.append(arg)
    return datetimes

datetimes.sort()

return datetimes[0]

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points

Having a 'return" inside the loop will cause the function to end during the first loop pass. It will never get a chance to repeat.

It also prevents any of the later code (like "sort") from being executed.