I noticed that it is possible to write this : """ file('/tmp/myfile', 'w').write('Hello world\n') contnt = file('/tmp/sourcefile').read() """ instead of : """ fh = file('/tmp/myfile', 'w') fh.write('Hello world\n') fh.close() fh = file('/tmp/sourcefile') contnt = fh.read() fh.close() """ is there a reason not to use the first example ? K.