Cows and Bulls

Simple command-line implementation of the classic "Cows and Bulls" number guessing game.

Game rules

• The computer generates a secret 4-digit number with unique digits (digits may start with 0).
• You guess 4-digit numbers. After each guess you receive:
  • a "bull" for every correct digit in the correct position
  • a "cow" for every correct digit in the wrong position

The goal is to get 4 bulls.

Files

• cows-and-bulls.py: the game script (run with Python 3).
• LICENSE: project license.

Requirements

• Python 3.8+ (works on 3.7 as well).

Quick Start

Run the game directly:

python3 cows-and-bulls.py

Optional flags:

• -m NUM, --max-attempts NUM : limit the number of attempts (default: unlimited)
• -s, --show-secret : show the secret at start (debug mode)

Examples:

# Play with unlimited attempts
python3 cows-and-bulls.py

# Play with at most 10 attempts
python3 cows-and-bulls.py --max-attempts 10

# Start and show secret (for debugging)
python3 cows-and-bulls.py --show-secret

During play you can type Q to quit early. After each game you'll be asked if you want to play again.

How it works (brief)

The script generates a random 4-digit secret with unique digits using random.sample. For each valid guess it counts bulls (same digit same position) and cows (digit present elsewhere). The player repeats guesses until they get 4 bulls or run out of attempts.

Optional Enhancements

• Allow the player to choose a difficulty level at the start of the game, which changes the length of the secret number or the number of attempts allowed.
• Implement a system that offers hints after a certain number of incorrect guesses, providing more guidance to the player.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Fork the repo, make changes, and open a pull request. Keep changes focused and include tests if adding features.

License

See the LICENSE file for license terms.