[Python-Dev] adding save() and load() function for interactive use

[Gerrit Holl]

Hello,

I have a proposal to enhance the usefulness of Python for learning
purposes. RFE#852222:

 I think that for learning Python, it would be nice to
 save the current namespace to a file using a builtin
 save() function (and corresponding load()). For
 beginning programmers, it would be nice to be able to
 tinker interactively with the shell, defining functions
 and maybe even classes, with which they can continue
 later on. save() is easily implemented by pickling
 locals(); load() is easily implemented by updating
 locals() while unpickling it. The functions would take
 a filename (string) as an argument. In Idle, they could be
 in the menu. Like the _ variable, load() and save() are
 only present in the interactive shell (some global
 .pythonrc?). Example usage:

 >>> def foo():
 ...    raw_input("Do you like it?" )
 ...    print "Great!"
 >>> save("~/session")


 >>> load("~/session")
 >>> foo()
 Do you like it? yes
 Great!

Note that this code is untested.

I think this would be a nice addition to Python 2.4.

yours,
Gerrit.

-- 
105. If the agent is careless, and does not take a receipt for the
money which he gave the merchant, he can not consider the unreceipted
money as his own.
          -- 1780 BC, Hammurabi, Code of Law
-- 
Asperger's Syndrome - a personal approach:
	http://people.nl.linux.org/~gerrit/english/