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Python Introducing Lists Using Lists Split and Join

Thomas McMenemy
Thomas McMenemy
7,877 Points

I apologize if this was already covered, but why was Python run with the "-i"?

I apologize if this was already covered, but why was Python run with the "-i"?

2 Answers

Dave McFarland
STAFF
Dave McFarland
Treehouse Teacher

Thomas McMenemy,

In this video Craig uses the -i flag to load a Python script into the REPL, so that he can interact with the script interactively ("i" for interactive).

If you type this python meeting_list.py, the python script runs. When the script ends you're in the console. However if you type python -i meeting_list.py the file is loaded and run, but you end in the Python REPL. Then you can run any commands in the REPL -- for example to inspect the final state of a variable after the script runs.

Ken Alger
STAFF
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher

Thomas;

The -i generic option is used to inspect global variables or a stack trace when a script raises an exception.

You can read more about it by running the python --help command at the command line, or visiting the documentation on the Command line and environment and the PYTHONINSPECT option.

Hope it helps.

Ken