# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import unicode_literals


try:
    from django.utils.encoding import force_text
except ImportError:
    from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode as force_text


def text_value(value):
    """
    Force a value to text, render None as an empty string
    """
    if value is None:
        return ''
    return force_text(value)


def text_concat(*args, **kwargs):
    """
    Concatenate several values as a text string with an optional separator
    """
    separator = text_value(kwargs.get('separator', ''))
    values = filter(None, [text_value(v) for v in args])
    return separator.join(values)
