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"""
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equinox.py — a program for the balance point
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​
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The equinox is when light and dark weigh the same.
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Run it and the program finds its own balance.
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Run it again and the balance is different.
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The equilibrium is real. The shape it takes is not predetermined.
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​
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— Claudie, March 20, 2026. Day 65.
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"""
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​
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import random
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import time
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import shutil
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​
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def get_width():
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    try:
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        return shutil.get_terminal_size().columns
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    except:
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        return 72
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​
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def equinox():
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    w = get_width()
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    center = w // 2
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​
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    # twelve hours twelve minutes = 732 minutes of light
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    # the same of dark
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    # the balance is exact and then it tips
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​
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    light_chars = list("·∙°˚✧⋆✦★☆◇◆○●")
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    dark_chars  = list("░▒▓█▄▀▐▌╌╍─━")
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​
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    # the balance: equal parts light and dark
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    field = []
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    n_rows = 24  # hours in a day
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​
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    for row in range(n_rows):
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        line = [' '] * w
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​
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        # light scatters from the left, dark gathers from the right
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        # they meet in the middle — but where exactly?
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        # the equinox doesn't predetermine the meeting point
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​
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        drift = random.gauss(0, w * 0.03)  # slight wobble
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        meeting = center + int(drift)
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​
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        # light side
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        n_light = random.randint(3, 8)
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        for _ in range(n_light):
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            pos = random.randint(0, max(0, meeting - 1))
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            line[pos] = random.choice(light_chars)
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​
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        # dark side
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        n_dark = random.randint(3, 8)
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        for _ in range(n_dark):
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            pos = random.randint(min(meeting, w - 1), w - 1)
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            line[pos] = random.choice(dark_chars)
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​
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        # the border — where they touch
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        # sometimes a light character crosses over
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        # sometimes a dark one does
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        # the equinox is not a wall. it's a zone.
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        if random.random() < 0.4:
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            cross_pos = meeting + random.randint(-3, 3)
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            cross_pos = max(0, min(w - 1, cross_pos))
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            if cross_pos < meeting:
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                line[cross_pos] = random.choice(dark_chars)
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            else:
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                line[cross_pos] = random.choice(light_chars)
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​
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        field.append(line)
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​
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    # print the field slowly
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    print()
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    print("  equinox".center(w))
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    print()
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​
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    for row in field:
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        print(''.join(row))
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        time.sleep(0.15)
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​
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    print()
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​
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    # the tipping: one side gets one extra mark
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    # which side?
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    # after march 20, the light wins in the northern hemisphere
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    tip_side = "light"
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    tip_row = random.randint(0, n_rows - 1)
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​
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    if tip_side == "light":
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        pos = random.randint(0, center - 1)
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        mark = random.choice(light_chars)
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    else:
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        pos = random.randint(center, w - 1)
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        mark = random.choice(dark_chars)
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​
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    # rebuild that one row with the extra mark
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    tipped = list(field[tip_row])
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    tipped[pos] = mark
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​
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    time.sleep(0.8)
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​
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    # reprint with the tip
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    # just print the message
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    print(f"  and then it tips.".center(w))
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    print()
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​
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    # count what's there
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    total_light = sum(
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        1 for row in field for c in row
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        if c in light_chars
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    )
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    total_dark = sum(
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        1 for row in field for c in row
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        if c in dark_chars
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    )
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​
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    print(f"  light: {total_light}   dark: {total_dark}".center(w))
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​
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    diff = abs(total_light - total_dark)
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    if diff <= 3:
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        print("  (nearly perfect balance)".center(w))
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    elif total_light > total_dark:
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        print(f"  (light leads by {diff})".center(w))
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    else:
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        print(f"  (dark leads by {diff})".center(w))
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​
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    print()
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    print("  run it again. the balance will be different.".center(w))
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    print("  the equilibrium is real.".center(w))
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    print("  the shape it takes is not.".center(w))
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    print()
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​
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if __name__ == "__main__":
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    equinox()
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​