How to run python top level/interpreter with file input?

Question

I've always wondered how to do this, it's useful for manual unit testing of individual python scrips. Say I had a python file that did something, and I wanted to run it in the top level, but after it finishes, I want to pick up where it leaves off. I want to be able to use the objects it creates, etc.

A simple example, let's say I have a python script that does i = 5. When the script ends, I want to be returned to the top level and be able to continue with i = 5.

Answer 1

python -i or the code module.

Answer 2

Assuming I'm understanding your question correctly, the -i switch is what you're looking for:

~$ echo "i = 5" > start.py
~$ python -i start.py 
>>> i
5

Answer 3

you can also set PYTHONINSPECT in your environment

Answer 4

As mentioned, 'python -i ' is the closest answer to your question. You can also use 'import' to run scripts in the interpreter. For example, if you're editing "testscript.py" you could do:

$ ls -l
-rw-r--r-- 1 Xxxx None    771 2009-02-07 18:26 testscript.py
$ python
>>> import testscript
>>> print testlist
['result1', 'result2']
>>>

testscript.py has to be in sys.path for this to work (sys.path includes the current working directory automatically).

This is useful if you want to run a few different scripts and have the environment from all of them at the same time.

Answer 5

Looks like you're looking for execfile - for example:

$ cat >seti.py
i = 5
^C
$ cat >useit.py
execfile('seti.py')
print i
$ python useit.py 
5
$