x = eval(repr(sys.stdout)) ?

[Paul Rubin]

Robert McLay <mclay at cfdlab.ae.utexas.edu> writes:
> So the question is:  Is there a way to save a "pointer" to a variable in
> python so that it can be set latter?
> ...
> and foo is now 2.  Is there something that can do this in python?

No not really in full generality, unless you count exec/eval.

For what you describe, you could use a closure:

  def temp_redirect(new_stream):
     old_stream = sys.stdout
     sys.stdout = new_stream
     def _restore():
       sys.stdout = old_stream
     return _restore

and then to do your redirection:

   restore = temp_redirect(open("whatever","w"))  # redirects stdout
   ...

and then when you're done:

   restore()

resets sys.stdout to its old value.