[Python-Dev] odd interpreter feature

[Tim Peters]

[Skip Montanaro]
> I was editing the tutorial just now and noticed the secondary prompt (...)
> in a situation where I didn't think it was appropriate:
>
>     >>> # The argument of repr() may be any Python object:
>     ... repr(x, y, ('spam', 'eggs'))
>     "(32.5, 40000, ('spam', 'eggs'))"
>
> It's caused by the trailing colon at the end of the comment.  I
> verified it using current CVS:
>
>     >>> hello = 'hello, world\n' hellos = repr(hello) print hellos
>     'hello, world\n'
>     >>> # hello:
>     ...
>     >>>
>
> Shouldn't the trailing colon be ignored in comments?  Bug,
> feature or wart?

This changed at some very early point in Python's life.  I don't think the
trailing colon is relevant:

>>> 1+2
3
>>> # hello
...
>>>