14.2.8: Validating Tweet Length

The instructions could use some work.

Start by breaking down the requirements they did give you into action steps. For example, the first sentence alone tells you to:

1. Create a function

2. Name the function validate_tweet()

3. Add a parameter to the function

4. Make that parameter take the name of a text file

So for starters, make sure you are getting all of the instructions as they give them to you.

I've got to warn you, too, that a lot of students forget to open the file. The last two assignments show you how to open, read, and close a file.

Just make sure that those steps are part of your function!

You'll probably need one more thing: You'll need to "strip" the file. That removes all of the whitespace at the beginning and end of something.

Basically, it takes:

"                    Howdy!                           "

and returns:

"Howdy!"

Pretty handy! And necessary in this case. Evaluate it AFTER you strip it.