Python - Tkinter - Fifteen

# Dora Jambor, dorajambor@gmail.com
# January, 2016
# Implementation of the game fifteen in Python

#import time, pdb
from Tkinter import *

# ---------- parameters ----------

# Dimensions
min_dim = 3
max_dim = 9

# Board elements
d = 0
board = []
counter = 0

# Location of blank space
blankx = 0
blanky = 0

# ---------- functions ----------

def greet():
    print 'This is the Game of Fifteen!'

def dim():
    # global d # if you use "return" you don't need access to global variable.
               # you can even use different name - for example `result`.

    result = int(raw_input('Insert the dimension of the board: '))

    while True:
        if result >=min_dim and result <= max_dim:
            break
        result = int(raw_input('Try again: '))

    return result

# Initialize the board
'''
This fills up the two-dimensional board[][] list with numbers ascending
from the inputted dimension to 1
'''
def setup():
    global blankx, blanky, game_running

    # set or reset all data and variables
    # without creating board and buttons

    # label is now invisible
    label.lower()

    # set blank
    blankx = d - 1
    blanky = d - 1

    # fill board with numbers - it changes buttons too
    # StringVar requires the use of get() and set()

    numbers = d * d

    for row in board:
        for string_var in row:

            numbers -= 1

            if numbers == 0:
                string_var.set(' ')
            else:
                string_var.set(str(numbers))

    # set other variables
    game_running = True


# Play the game
'''
A function called by Tkinter that allows the user to interact with the game board
and play the game by moving the tiles.
'''
def play(i, j):
    global blankx, blanky, game_running

    #print 'play i,j:', i, j
    #print 'blankx, blanky:', blankx, blanky

    if game_running:

        if (blankx, blanky) in [(i+1,j),(i-1,j),(i,j+1),(i,j-1)]:

            # StringVar requires the use of get() and set()
            #board[blanky][blankx] = board[j][i]
            #board[j][i] = ' '
            board[blanky][blankx].set( board[j][i].get() )
            board[j][i].set(' ')

            # you don't need it - StringVar do it for you
            #buttons[blanky][blankx]['text'] = buttons[j][i]['text']
            #buttons[j][i]['text'] = '   '

            blanky = j
            blankx = i

            if won():
                # lable is now visible
                label.lift()
                game_running = False

    # probably you don't need it - `label for winning` will call `setup`
    #else:
        # reset board (without creating new board) and restart game
    #    setup()


def won():

    # StringVar ('char') requires the use of get() and set()

    number = 0

    for row in board:
        for string_var in row:

            number += 1

            if number == d * d and string_var.get() == ' ':
                return True
            elif string_var.get() != str(number):
                return False

    return True


# ---------- main ----------

# - befor tkinter window -

greet()
d = dim()

# - create window -

root = Tk()
root.config(bg = 'black', borderwidth=4)
root.wm_title("Game of Fifteen")

# - label for winning -

label = Button(root, text="You won!", fg="pink",font=("Helvetica",15), comman=setup)
label.config(bg='black')
label.grid(row=0, column=0, ipadx=5, ipady=5)

# - frame for the board game -

frame = Frame(root)
frame.config(bg='black')
frame.grid(row=0, column=0) # added to grid after label will hide label

# - creat board - only once - without numbers

# fill board with StringVars

for _ in range(d): # if you don't need `j` then you can use `_`
    row = []
    for _ in range(d): # if you don't need `i` then you can use `_`
        # new StringVar for every tile
        string_var = StringVar()

        # append StringVar object, not text from StringVar - get()
        row.append(string_var) # without .get()

    board.append(row)

# - create buttons - only once - without numbers

# if you use StringVar you don't need direct access to buttons
#buttons = []

for j, row in enumerate(board):
    #buttons_row = []
    for i, string_var in enumerate(row):
        # v = StringVar() # don't need it

        b = Label(frame, textvariable=string_var, bg='pink', font=("Helvetica", 30))

        # you can't assign normal text to textvariable
        # and you don't have to - put empty text into StringVar in board
        #if board[j][i]== d * d:
        #   b = Label(frame, textvariable = '   ', bg='pink',font=("Helvetica", 30))

        b.grid(row=j, column=i, sticky="nsew", ipadx=8, padx=4, pady=4)
        # ipadx to make 3x3-board bigger and hide `label for winning`

        # if you want to click widget then maybe you should use Button()
        # and command= to assing function

        b.bind('<Button-1>',lambda e, i=i,j=j:play(i,j))

        #buttons_row.append(b)
    #buttons.append(buttons_row)

# - fill board with numbers and start game -
setup()    # start over

root.mainloop()    # start engine