[Tutor] Question about dictionary method get()

[Danny Yoo]

> Thanks very much again, Francis. Very clear, except for my not understanding
>
> if __name__ == '__main__':
>          func()
>
> But that's OK. I'll get to that later.

Hi Dick,


Ah.  Unwritten community knowledge.  *grin* Take a look at:

    http://diveintopython.org/getting_to_know_python/testing_modules.html

which explains that construct in detail.  Here's a three-sentence
overview:

When a Python program file is executed directly, a special variable called
'__name__' is set to the string "__main__".

The same program file, however, can be used as a module too, and on an
'import', the '__name__' ends up being something else.

So the 'if' statement above lets us do something different if the program
is being run directly, as opposed to being imported.


Hope this helps!