Reducing cache/buffer for faster display

[John Gordon]

In <mailman.1522.1348783807.27098.python-list at python.org> Chris Angelico <rosuav at gmail.com> writes:

> On Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 7:57 AM, Rikishi42 <skunkworks at rikishi42.net> wrote:
> > I have these 2 scripts that are very heavy on the file i/o, consume a very
> > reasonable amount of cpu and output their counters at a - very - relaxed
> > pace to the console. The output is very simply done using something like:
> >
> >    print "files:", nFiles, "\r",
> >
> >
> > Yet alltough there is no real reason for it, even a pace of a print every
> > 10-30 secs will be cached, only to actually show an output update every 1-2
> > min or so.

> Yup! Just add a call to sys.stdout.flush() after each print.

Isn't terminal output line-buffered?  I don't understand why there would
be an output delay.  (Unless the "\r" is messing things up...)

-- 
John Gordon                   A is for Amy, who fell down the stairs
gordon at panix.com              B is for Basil, assaulted by bears
                                -- Edward Gorey, "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"