[Tutor] Notepad++ question

[Alexander Quest]

[Resending because I messed up on last email]

My question was regarding a piece of boilerplate code:

if __name__ == '__main__':
  main()

This calls the main function, but I don't understand what the 'if'
statement is doing here. In the simple programs that I've seen this so far,
there is no variable called "_name_", and even if there was, why is it
comparing it to "_main_"? Why can't the main function just be called by
typing main()- why do we need this if statement to precede it? Thanks.

-Alex

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 3:17 PM, Alexander Quest <redacted@example.com>wrote:

> Got it Dave- sorry about not sending it to the newsgroup as well.
>
> My question was regarding a piece of boilerplate code:
>
>
> if __name__ == '__main__':
>   main()
>
> This calls the main function, but I don't understand what the 'if'
> statement is doing here. In the simple programs that I've seen this so far,
> there is no variable called "_name_", and even if there was, why is it
> comparing it to "_main_"? Why can't the main function just be called by
> typing main()- why do we need this if statement to precede it? Thanks.
>
> -Alex
>
> On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 6:16 PM, Dave Angel <d at davea.name> wrote:
>
>> On 06/07/2012 02:36 PM, Alexander Quest wrote:
>> > Ok, thanks guys. I also had one more quick question regarding a piece of
>> > boilerplate code:
>> >
>>
>> To get a response, you will needs to leave your question at the python
>> tutor newsgroup.  We are part of a group, not offering private advice.
>>
>> Normally, you just do a Reply-all to one of the existing messages on the
>> thread, to include the group.  But you can also type    tutor at python.org
>>  as a CC:
>>
>> I've been volunteering my time on various forums for over 25 years now,
>> so I think I speak for lots of other volunteers.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> DaveA
>>
>
>
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