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Python

Posted by Jason Whitaker
Jason Whitaker
12,252 Points

Python version on mac & weird terminal behavior

I wanted to find out what version on Python was installed on my mac. Instead of typing "python -V" I typed "python -v". I got the following output which is just a snippet of what the terminal output.

# installing zipimport hook
import zipimport # builtin
# installed zipimport hook
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py
import site # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py
import os # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.pyc
import errno # builtin
import posix # builtin

I've not seen this. What is it doing? After this it goes the the Python "prompt". When I type "exit()" it does this. 

# clear __builtin__._
# clear sys.path
# clear sys.argv
# clear sys.ps1
# clear sys.ps2
# clear sys.exitfunc
# clear sys.exc_type
# clear sys.exc_value
# clear sys.exc_traceback
# clear sys.last_type
# clear sys.last_value

Again, this is just a small sample of my terminal output. It then quits Python.

[MOD: added ```bash markdown formatting -cf]

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

All is well. You're just getting a peak behind the curtain....

From python --help:

-v     : verbose (trace import statements); also PYTHONVERBOSE=x
         can be supplied multiple times to increase verbosity
-V     : print the Python version number and exit (also --version)

The lower-cased v is for verbose. What you are seeing are all the import statements python runs to setup the interactive session. The same verosity is shown on the exit. Because I frequently mixed these two up, I usually type out --version