[Tutor] Up All Night with IDLE.

[Robert Groenewegen]

Dear Tesla,

I have had the same trouble after using 'import' in the python shell. IDLE (and Python) have nice 
features (like ctrl-f5) but I can not get used to this stuff. I have red something about 'reload' in the 
manual but I prefer a more old-fashioned way.

1) I write a very simple script like 'test.py'

# testscript
import foo
foo.foobar()

open a command shell, and after saving the source in IDLE, I enter "python test.py" (and use F3 
for the next test)

2) I create a link on my desktop which I double-click after saving the source

3) I create the source-file on my desktop and after defining the correct 'open' and 'edit' in the 
Windows Explorer, I can double-click the icons

edit -> c:\python20\pythonw.exe c:\python20\tools\idle\idle.py -e "%1"
open -> C:\Python20\pythonw.exe "%1" %

The goal of these methods is to invoke a new shell (and clean environment too). The methods 
are a little bit Windows-style but they can be implemented in the Unix shell too. This way of 
testing (always do a fresh start) have saved me in several operating systems.

Regards, Robert


On 14 Jan 2001, at 10:06, Tesla Coil wrote:

> I'm in IDLE and I write:
> 
> def foobar():
>     print 'foobar'
> 
> foobar()
> 
> Save as krock.py, run it, prints foobar.
> I return to the editor and modify the function:
> 
> def foobaz():
>     print 'foobaz'
> 
> foobar()
> 
> Save, run, prints foobar.
> 
> Larger program, more complex functions, awake all night,
> rewriting foobaz, mystified that output is still foobar...
> 
> Shut down, restart IDLE, reload krock.py run it again:
> NameError: There is no variable named 'foobar'
> 
> I'll give myself a little credit: I figured it out without that.
> I would prefer to get a NameError without shutting down IDLE.
> Is there a line I could put at the top of programs to assure
> I'll be in uncorrupted namespace on every test run?
> 
> 
> 
> 
>