python time range validator

Question

I have 2 parameters in DB: start and stop. value for them can be eg 07:00-23:00 or 23:00-07:00 (start after 07, stop after 23 or start after 23, stop after 07)

In t

Answer 1

There are two cases: the current time is between given times (clock-wise) or outside (imagine the clock circle):

#!/usr/bin/env python
from datetime import datetime

def in_between(now, start, end):
    if start < end: # e.g., "07:00-23:00"
        return start <= now < end
    elif end < start: # e.g., "23:00-07:00"
        return start <= now or now < end
    else: # start == end
        return True # consider it 24 hour interval

now = datetime.now().time()
for date_range in ["07:00-23:00", "23:00-07:00"]:
    start, end = [datetime.strptime(s, "%H:%M").time()
                  for s in date_range.split("-")]
    not_ = '' if in_between(now, start, end) else 'not '
    print("{now:%H:%M} is {not_}in between {date_range}".format(**vars()))

Output

02:26 is not in between 07:00-23:00
02:26 is in between 23:00-07:00

Answer 2

UPDATE: Based on your update

This looks better, the only thing I'm confused about is your if datetime.now() < endTrig conditional.

Correct me if I'm still misunderstanding you, but your current conditional looks like it reads:

if now() is before endTrigger:
  - if status is 1, we are good, stay on
  - if status is 0, turn on
  - if status is anything else (but cant it only be 1 or 0?):
    * if status is 1 ... (but wait, we already checked for this above!)
    * if status is 0 ... (ditto, these two checks will never trigger)
    * otherwise, force off
if now() is after endTime:
  - some logging (shouldnt this be where we turn off?)

You mentioned status must be 0 or 1. Based on that I would expect your conditional to look something like:

.
. [start/end setup stuff]
.
# If we haven't reached end time yet
if datetime.now() < endTrig:
    # If status is 1, we're already on
    if curStatus == 1:
        log('Already on')
    # If status isn't 1, it must be 0 and we should turn on
    else:
        log('Turn on')
        flipSwitchOn()

# If we have passed the end time
else:
    # If we're on, time to turn off
    if curStatus == 1:
        log('Turning off')
        flipSwitchOff()
    # If its not 1 it must be 0, we're off, stay off
    else:
        log('Already off')