How do you develop in Python?

[Michael Hudson]

Lou Pecora <pecora at anvil.nrl.navy.mil> writes:

> I program in Python occassionally and would like to do more of it.  But
> here's a development conundrum I run into a lot (there are more complex
> examples, but I'll give an easy one).  I am developing module A.py
> which imports B.py in the IDE.  I am running test code which is also in
> A.py as I incrementally develop A.py.  Then I need to change B.py and,
> of course, the import does not import the new changes since import only
> works once.  Hence,  to "refresh" B.py I have to quit the IDE and
> restart, open A.py and run.  This is clumsy.  However, the above
> scenario is not uncommon and more complex interdependencies of modules
> appear to make it unavoidable.  Anyone know a way to get around this
> "import" problem?   I know there is a "reload", but then I have to
> import and change my modules' code to "reload" or something each time I
> work with them.  Any help appreciated.

If module A.py goes

import B
... uses B ...

and then in the top-level you type

    >>> import A
    >>> import B

then change B.py

then in the top-level typing

    >>> reload(B)

modifies B in place, so code inside A should get the new version of
the module.

This doesn't work if you've used 

from B import ...

in A; then you need to reload A too.

I don't see where you get the 

> Hence, to "refresh" B.py I have to quit the IDE and restart, open
> A.py and run.

but I'd have to admit that I don't use the MacPython IDE, so I might
be missing some specific detail of that implementation.  But I don't
think so.

Cheers,
M.

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