🪓 Gallows

A classic, lightweight word-guessing game built in Python. Designed for the terminal, this version of Hangman focuses on clean logic, interactive gameplay, and that nostalgic "low-fi" terminal aesthetic.

🌟 Features

ASCII Visuals:

Dynamic drawing of the hangman as you progress through incorrect guesses.

No-Install Design:

Runs directly via Python using standard libraries - no 'pip install' required.

Minimalist Workflow:

Fast, keyboard-driven interface optimized for terminal enthusiasts.

Modular Design:

Code is organized into three distinct files (Logic, Art and Words) for better readability.

Extensive Word Bank:

Includes a dedicated word list file, making it easy to add or customize categories.

🚀 Installation & Setup

1. Download the Tool

Open your terminal and clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/rhitamcoder/gallows.git

(Alternatively, click the green Code button on Github and select Download ZIP.)

2. Create a Global Command

If you want to play the game by simply typing 'gallows' from any folder in your terminal, follow these steps into a new terminal window:

1. Hide the folder:

mv gallows .gallows

2. Create a launcher script:

sudo nano /usr/local/bin/gallows

3. Paste the following logic (Replace /path/to/ with the actual path where you cloned the folder):

#!/bin/bash
cd /path/to/.gallows/ && python3 hangman.py

4. Save and Exit:

Press 'Ctrl+O', 'Enter', then 'Ctrl+X'.

5. Make it executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/gallows

🎮 How to Use

Simple open your terminal and type:

gallows

Manual Run

If you did not set up the global command, simply navigate to the folder and run:

python3 hangman.py

The Logic

1. The Objective: Guess the hidden word one letter at a time before the hangman is fully drawn.

2. Input: Type a single letter and press 'Enter'.

3. Feedback: The game will show you your correctly guessed letters and a list of missed attempts.

4. Win/Loss: If you complete the word, you win! If the hangman is finished (after 6 wrong guesses), the game is over.

🛠️ Requirements

Python 3.x: Works perfectly on any system with Python installed.

Linux/Unix Optimized: Tested on Arch, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, (Any Ubuntu-based distros) & MacOS.

🧠 Why I Built This

This project was a deep dive into Python logic loops and string manipulation. It's a tribute to the classic "pen & paper" games, reimagined for the command line to prove that you don't need a heavy GUI to have a fun, polished experience.

📈 Key Learnings

By building this CLI game, I focused on:

1. Input Handling: Managing user errors and ensuring the game doesn't crash on weird inputs.

2. Game State Management: Keeping track of lives, guessed letters, and the hidden word simultaneously.

3. Terminal UI: Using ASCII arts to provide visual feedback within a text-only environment.

Contributing:

Feel free to Fork this repo to add your own word lists or custom ASCII art designs!