solution_42.py

# Exercise 4.2

import os  # Import the os module into the global namespace.

# We re-use the function from exercise 4.2, and add an optional argument
# "ignore_hidden" that, when set to "True", will ignore hidden files (i.e.
# files whose name is starting with a dot, e.g. ".DS_Store")


def count_files(dir_name, ignore_hidden=False):
    """Counts files present in the input directory.
    Only files are counted, directories are ignored.

    Arguments:
        dir_name: path of directory in which to count files.
        ignore_hidden: Optional. If set to True, hidden files (files that
            start with a '.') are ignored from the count.
    """

    # Initialize file counter.
    file_count = 0

    # Loop through all files and directories present in the input directory.
    for path in os.listdir(path=dir_name):
        # Get the absolute path of the file/directory.
        full_path = os.path.join(dir_name, path)

        # Verify the path corresponds to a file, not a directory.
        if os.path.isfile(full_path) and not (ignore_hidden and path.startswith(".")):
            file_count += 1

    return file_count


parent_dir = os.path.dirname(os.getcwd())
print("File count in [", parent_dir, "]: ", count_files(parent_dir), sep="")
print(
    "File count (excluding hidden files) in [",
    parent_dir,
    "]: ",
    count_files(parent_dir, ignore_hidden=True),
    sep="",
)