generate markdown course schedule with python
python
syllabus
markdown
I have a gist posted to generate or update a course syllabus that is maintained in a markdown table. This code is based on original work by Joseph Reagle, Copyright (C) 2011-2023 GLPv3.
To install
Click [raw] in the upper right-corner of the gist, save that text into a file, and change the first line to whatever you get when you type:
which python | which python3then execute:
chmod 755 semester.py
./semester.py -hTo generate a new calendar for a new semester
- Use your favorite text editor to modify this part of the code to know about days of the week, holidays, and start and end dates for your semester (or quarter). The date format is YYYYMMDD
# Spring semester; updated 2025-04-12
SPRING_SEM_FIRST = "20260112"
SPRING_SEM_LAST = "20260429"
SPRING_HOLIDAYS = {
"20260119": "MLK",
"20260316": "Spring break",
"20260317": "Spring break",
"20260318": "Spring break",
"20260319": "Spring break",
"20260320": "Spring break",
}
SPRING = (SPRING_SEM_FIRST, SPRING_SEM_LAST, SPRING_HOLIDAYS)
# Fall semester; updated 2025-04-12
FALL_SEM_FIRST = "20250825"
FALL_SEM_LAST = "20251210"
FALL_HOLIDAYS = {
"20250901": "Labor Day",
"20251027": "Fall Break",
"20251028": "Fall Break",
"20251126": "Thanksgiving",
"20251127": "Thanksgiving",
"20251128": "Thanksgiving",
}
FALL = (FALL_SEM_FIRST, FALL_SEM_LAST, FALL_HOLIDAYS)and if you wanted to generate a calendar for a MW fall term class in 2025, you would run:
./semester.py -b mw -t f >fall2025.mdExample Calendar
The command above generated this blank calendar:
| Date | Topic | Reading/Due |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Aug 25th | ||
| Wednesday, Aug 27th | ||
| Monday, Sep 1st | Labor Day (NO CLASS) | |
| Wednesday, Sep 3rd | ||
| Monday, Sep 8th | ||
| Wednesday, Sep 10th | ||
| Monday, Sep 15th | ||
| Wednesday, Sep 17th | ||
| Monday, Sep 22nd | ||
| Wednesday, Sep 24th | ||
| Monday, Sep 29th | ||
| Wednesday, Oct 1st | ||
| Monday, Oct 6th | ||
| Wednesday, Oct 8th | ||
| Monday, Oct 13th | ||
| Wednesday, Oct 15th | ||
| Monday, Oct 20th | ||
| Wednesday, Oct 22nd | ||
| Monday, Oct 27th | Fall Break (NO CLASS) | |
| Wednesday, Oct 29th | ||
| Monday, Nov 3rd | ||
| Wednesday, Nov 5th | ||
| Monday, Nov 10th | ||
| Wednesday, Nov 12th | ||
| Monday, Nov 17th | ||
| Wednesday, Nov 19th | ||
| Monday, Nov 24th | ||
| Wednesday, Nov 26th | Thanksgiving (NO CLASS) | |
| Monday, Dec 1st | ||
| Wednesday, Dec 3rd | ||
| Monday, Dec 8th | ||
| Wednesday, Dec 10th |
then populate that calendar with assignments, readings, whatever you need and don’t worry about how you’ll update the dates the next time you teach it, because:
To update an existing calendar for a new semester
Imagine you have an old syllabus for a course and just want to update the dates to a new semester. Edit the python source of semester.py to know about the new semester (e.g. a TH class in Spring 2026), and then run:
# make a copy of the file, this will be the new calendar
cp spring2025.md spring2026.md
./semester.py -b th -f s spring2026.mdand semester.py will update the dates in place in the new file:
| Date | Topic | Reading/Due |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Jan 12th | Introduction, review syllabus | |
| Wednesday, Jan 14th | Introduction to Language Ideologies | EWAA, Chapter 1 |
| Friday, Jan 16th | ||
| Monday, Jan 19th | MLK (NO CLASS) | |
| Wednesday, Jan 21st | Language, categorization, & social identities | EWAA, Chapter 2 |
| Friday, Jan 23rd | Assignment #1 Due | |
| Monday, Jan 26th | A quick introduction to Language & Linguistics | EWAA, Chapter 3 |
| Wednesday, Jan 28th | Language subordination | EWAA, Chapter 4 |
| Friday, Jan 30th | ||
| Monday, Feb 2nd | ||
| Wednesday, Feb 4th | American accents | EWAA, Chapter 5 |
| Friday, Feb 6th | Assignment #2 Due | |
| Monday, Feb 9th | ||
| Wednesday, Feb 11th | Language, racialization, & race | EWAA, Chapter 6 |
| Friday, Feb 13th | ||
| Monday, Feb 16th | ||
| Wednesday, Feb 18th | Non-English spoken languages in the US | EWAA, Chapter 7 |
| Friday, Feb 20th | ||
| Monday, Feb 23rd | ||
| Wednesday, Feb 25th | American Sign Language | EWAA, Chapter 8 |
| Friday, Feb 27th | ||
| Monday, Mar 2nd | ||
| Wednesday, Mar 4th | Perceptual dialectology | EWAA, Chapter 9 |
| Friday, Mar 6th | Assignment #3 Due | |
| Monday, Mar 9th | ||
| Wednesday, Mar 11th | First half wrap-up, Exam Prep | |
| Friday, Mar 13th | Midterm Exam | |
| Monday, Mar 16th | Spring break (NO CLASS) | |
| Wednesday, Mar 18th | Spring break (NO CLASS) | |
| Friday, Mar 20th | Spring break (NO CLASS) | |
| Monday, Mar 23rd | A history of ‘r’ in the US | EWAA, Chapter 10 |
| Wednesday, Mar 25th | ||
| Friday, Mar 27th | Assignment #4 Due | |
| Monday, Mar 30th | Language in education | EWAA, Chapter 11 |
| Wednesday, Apr 1st | ||
| Friday, Apr 3rd | ||
| Monday, Apr 6th | Language in the media | EWAA, Chapter 12 |
| Wednesday, Apr 8th | ||
| Friday, Apr 10th | ||
| Monday, Apr 13th | Language in the workplace | EWAA, Chapter 13 |
| Wednesday, Apr 15th | ||
| Friday, Apr 17th | Assignment #5 Due | |
| Monday, Apr 20th | Language in the law | EWAA, Chapter 14 |
| Wednesday, Apr 22nd | ||
| Friday, Apr 24th | ||
| Monday, Apr 27th | Stereotype as cognitive template | Lindeman 2002 |
| Wednesday, Apr 29th | McGowan & Babel 2020 |