[Tutor] Need help with a couple of concepts

[JoanCarles p Casasín]

Robin B. Lake wrote:

>Running Python on a Mac G3.
>
>1.  Am modifying some code.  There is at the bottom:
>
>if __name__ == '__main__':
>	main()
>
>and after the imports:
>
>def main():
>
>What is this all about?

Correct me somebody if I'm not right. But this is what I understand:

#(your filename: "TestMain.py")

def printastring(thestring):
     print thestring

def main():
     print "hello world!"
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()

This means that:
If you *run* the script you'll have "hello world" printed out.

If you *import* (import TestMain)
You won't have printed anything, but you'll be able to use any function 
defined:
TestMain.printastring('yeaaah!')

>2.  I have some code from a Python book that requires the kjbuckets
>extension module.  I've downloaded the kjbuckets module.  Where in
>the Mac directory tree should I put it so that Python will find it
>when needed?

You can put it wherever you want, but you'be to say it to Python. Launch 
the applet "EditPythonPrefs" (i'm also using a Mac ;) and write there the 
path for the folder.
I personally think that a good idea is to have it in the Extensions 
folder, then it should look something like:

$(PYTHON):Extensions:kjbuckets

'$(PYTHON)' is the folder where Python interpreter lives.

>3.  I'm using BBEdit Lite 4.6 to edit the Python code.  Any way to
>get line numbers in the source so that the Python error messages
>might be matched up better?

You've definitely move to the PythonIDE (great!) written by Just van 
Rossum. You'll have lot of Python oriented features (debugger, run as 
__main__ your scripts, a module browser... is C O O L !!).

If you're using Python 1.5.2 it comes with the distribution, on top. If 
you've older version it's in the Contrib folder I think...

==========
If you're using a Macintosh there's another list, Mac specific:
Python-Mac
http://www.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonmac-sig

if you're a Python newbie don't worry, *any* question is welcome (I am 
too ;)


Hope this helps,


JoanCarles


:::!!!:::
joanca@typerware.com

http://www.typerware.com