adventofcode2022/day3-2.py

from string import ascii_letters

DEBUG=False

def debug(*args):
    if DEBUG:
        print(args)

def main():
    with open("input3.txt", "r") as file:
        inlines = [line.strip() for line in file.readlines()]

    groups = []

    total_elves = len(inlines)

    i,j,k = 0,1,2

    while i < total_elves:
        groups.append([inlines[i], inlines[j], inlines[k]])
        i, j, k = i+3, j+3, k+3

    values = []
    for group in groups:
        debug(group)
        first, second, third = [set(elf) for elf in group]
        debug(first, second, third)
        debug(first & second & third)
        common_item = list(first & second & third)[0]
        values.append(ascii_letters.index(common_item)+1)
    
    print(sum(values))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()