What is firkin?

firkin is a python module to convert between different measurement units.

Usage

First we create an instance of UnitManager:

>>> um=UnitManager()

Next we create two families of units. The first one ist liter and uses SIFamily to automatically create units with the SI prefixes:

>>> um.add(SIFamily(base='l', name='liter'))

Now our UnitManager knows about fl, pl, nl, ..., Ml, Gl, Tl.

How many liters are 10000 ml?:

>>> um.convert_to_unit(1e4, 'ml', 'l')
(Decimal("10.0000"), 'l')

Next we create a family by hand:

>>> f=Family(name='f', base='gallon')
>>> f.add('barrel', 36, 'gallon')
>>> f.add('kilderkin', 0.5, 'barrel')
>>> f.add('firkin', 0.5, 'kilderkin')

Now we have a family called f that used gallon as its base and knows about barrel, kilderkin and firkin, too.

How much gallons is one firkin?:

>>> f.convert(1, 'firkin', 'gallon')
(Decimal("9.00"), 'gallon')

What's the best way to express 3 kilderkin?:

>>> f.autoconvert(3, 'kilderkin')
(Decimal("1.50"), 'barrel')

To convert between family f and family liter we need to add f to our UnitManager and tell how much liters (base unit of family liter) a gallon (base unit of family f) is:

>>> um.add(f, other='liter',  factor=4.54609)

Of course the UnitManger can convert firkin to gallon, too:

>>> um.convert_to_unit(1, 'firkin', 'gallon')
(Decimal("9.00"), 'gallon')

But it also can convert firkin to liters:

>>> um.convert_to_unit(1, 'firkin', 'l')
(Decimal("40.9148100"), 'l')

Or find the best way to express one liter in one of the units from family f:

>>> um.convert_to_family(1, 'l', 'f')
(Decimal("0.219969248299"), 'gallon')

That works with barrels, too:

>>> um.convert_to_family(1, 'barrel', 'f')
(Decimal("1.00"), 'barrel')