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Python Python Basics (2015) Python for Beginners Running Python Scripts

Calling a Python script

When a Python script is written, the programmer doesn't go into the Python 'REPL' due to that nothing is being evaluated, correct? The programmer only wants to call the code that was written in the script and this can be done through the console?

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

You can call a Python script by simply typing python script.py

Interactively, this would look like:

# show contents of foo.py
$ cat foo.py
name = 'Benjamin'
print(name)

# call python script
$ python foo.py 
Benjamin

# call python script then enter REPL using -i switch
$ python -i foo.py
Benjamin
>>> 
# inspect local variables
>>> name
'Benjamin'
>>> exit()

# enter REPL then call script
$ python
Python 3.4.0 (default, Jun 19 2015, 14:20:21) 
[GCC 4.8.2] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import foo
Benjamin
# inspect name variable
>>> foo.name
'Benjamin'