''' Purpose: get an input code phrase and list of indices. Determine the
             hidden message by using the indices to peek into the code phrase
'''

# get the code phrase that contains hidden message
reply = input( "Enter code phrase: " )

print()

# clean up reply to get code phrase with no leading or trailing blank space
code_phrase = reply.strip()

# print the code phrase
print( "Code phrase:", code_phrase )

print()

# get the list of indices (as string) for peeking into code phrase
reply = input( "Enter indices for looking into code phrase: " )

print()

# convert reply into a list of numeric strings
numeric_strings = reply.split()
# split() makes a NEW list out of a string. numeric_strings is a list and reply is still a string

# build one-by-one the list of indices out of the numeric strings 

indices = []
for each in numeric_strings :
    # each is our loop variable, python automatically assigns it the next value in the list each run
    nbr = int( each )
    indices.append( nbr )


# print the list of indices
print( "Indices:", indices )

print()

# build secret message (string) by peeking into code phrase using the
# indices one-by-one
message = "" # the infamous empty string will begin string accumulators

for i in indices : # i is the classic loop variable, followed by j
    # i will represent the index that we're looking at each run of this for loop
    ch = code_phrase[ i ] # we want to grab one character out of our code phrase using an index
    message = message + ch # this will add on the new character to the message string we're building
    # strings vs. list:
        # strings: str = str + new_stuff
        # list: lst.append( new_stuff )
        # LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING ASKED FOR. WE WILL ASK FOR A STRING OR A LIST AND THEY ARE NOT THE SAME
        # we are never going to trick you. we will be clear with what we want, just read the directionS
    print( "current index:", i )
    print( "current character we're peeking at ( code_phrase[ i ] ):", ch )
    print( "current message:", message )
    print()

# print secret message
print( "Secret message:", message )

# problem solving: work through what you have, what you need, and then figure out how to get there
# follow recommended algorithms when you get stuck problem solving, attend OH, and know that partial credit
# will always be better than a zero