Don't know how to start Python Project 2 - Battleship

I'm stuck on this project too but got a little further. If it clicks for you, maybe you can help me understand how to place the boats on the board correctly and validate :). Keep in mind there's a bunch of different ways to approach this, below is just the route I'm going.

Anyways, you're going to feel like your brain hurts with this project because it's the first time we're being asked to use object orientated programming (OOP). I'm assuming you've taken the current OOP course, and understand the basics of how to create classes and objects based on those classes. Just keep in mind a class is the blueprint, the object is based on that blueprint, but it's own copy of it. Kind of like a printing press. The class would be the metal plate with ink constantly wiped onto it, the object is the paper after being printed on by the metal plate.

So first part I did was determine how many classes I'd need. I split this up into a ship class, a board class, and a player class. This is because you know you'll have multiple boats, two or more boards, and two players.

The board class in my plan has the most code. I also moved the code provided for the exercise into the board class. Ironically, the board objects (in my program) don't keep track of where the ships are. Instead, that information is held by the boat objects.

You're given the following code by Treehouse to start your project:

SHIP_INFO = [
    ("Aircraft Carrier", 5),
    ("Battleship", 4),
    ("Submarine", 3),
    ("Cruiser", 3),
    ("Patrol Boat", 2)
]

BOARD_SIZE = 10

VERTICAL_SHIP = '|'
HORIZONTAL_SHIP = '-'
EMPTY = 'O'
MISS = '.'
HIT = '*'
SUNK = '#'


def clear_screen():
    print("\033c", end="")


def print_board_heading():
    print("   " + " ".join([chr(c) for c in range(ord('A'), ord('A') + BOARD_SIZE)]))


def print_board(board):
    print_board_heading()

    row_num = 1
    for row in board:
        print(str(row_num).rjust(2) + " " + (" ".join(row)))
        row_num += 1

Daunting right? Still, after a few hours you can crunch through it. The 'print_board_heading()' function was rough for me because it uses comprehensions...which I'm horrible at. However the rest should look a little familiar to you.

'board_size' tells you the size of the grid, 10x10. So you'll want to have a way for someone to reference a move in a 10x10 grid. In battleship fashion, the moves would be like 'A7' or 'J9'. So I created a string that just contained the alphabet. Next, I focused on what my 'board()' objects should do when they are created. So I created an init function. It references the board size (10). However 10 would just give me a single row, so I loop over it twice.

for rows in range(self.board_size):
            row = []
            for spot in range(self.board_size):
                row.append(self.EMPTY)
            self.board.append(row)
        self.print_board()

In the above, I create 10 rows, and each row contains 10 'spots'. All of them are assigned the EMPTY character which is provided. Once ship placement starts it references this list of lists to see if it's actually there (if not it's not in the board space) and if another boat is occupying it. The string in each 'spot' changes based on if a ship is there.

Keep in mind, my plan uses 4 board objects, with each player having two. You'd have one board for when you place your ships, and during the game to see where your ships are placed (and where your opponent has fired, hit, missed, etc. You'll also have another board that tracks your hit/misses. This isn't optimal...and honestly, I should have stuck to two board objects.

Hope the above helped. Like I said, this is just my approach. There are many different ways to approach this.