How to let user enter Python code as if they're running 'python' from terminal?

Question

When you run "python" in your terminal, you get a running instance of python where you can run python code.

I want to do this, but after my script has run a few functions first.

But what I want is this type of interface at the end of my script.

I.e. I want to run my_script.py, in "main" call a few functions, but then after those functions, keep the "workspace" open with the >>> interface so that the user can run more python code.

if __name__ == "__main__":

    excel_file = sys.argv[1]
    my_list = load_file(excel_file) 
    #... do a bunch of other things

    # open python interface now >>>
    while True:
        # accept user python commands like in the terminal example above

Is there any way to do this?

could you not just define a function that accepts user input (i.e. with input in python 3) and then uses those inputs to do whatever you want it to do? Or you're looking for a truly interactive python shell? — brobertsp
– brobertsp, Commented Jun 29, 2021 at 19:30
I'd try that out. Basically I want to create a makeshift "workspace", where first I load files into variables, and then I play around with the variables with a python shell (e.g. make graphs, save outputs, etc). Think "poor man's matlab" if you're familiar lol. I would try your solution, want to put up an answer? — JDS
– JDS, Commented Jun 29, 2021 at 19:33
I am happy to write an answer that does that but it seems like the suggestion from @BioGeek of using a Jupyter Notebook or the interactive shell are what you're looking for? I'd advocate just using the Jupyter Notebook if you want others to be able to interact with your code. — brobertsp
– brobertsp, Commented Jun 29, 2021 at 20:00

Erick Shepherd · Accepted Answer · 2021-06-29 19:44:18Z

2

You could run your script in interactive mode so that when it would normally exit, you instead drop into an interactive Python interpreter:

python -i my_script.py

You could also enter interactive mode from the script file without the command line flag using the Python code module like in this example:

import code

if __name__ == "__main__":

    # Do something.

    code.interact(local = locals())

Alternatively, you could use something like the exec keyword in a loop to execute arbitrary commands and kind of "fake it" with something like this:

if __name__ == "__main__":

    # Do something.

    try:

        while True:

            exec(input(">>> "))

    except KeyboardInterrupt:

        sys.exit()

Though this approach is a lot less clean than using interactive mode, especially for executing multi-line code.

answered Jun 29, 2021 at 19:44

Erick Shepherd

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1 Comment

JDS Over a year ago

Awesome man, exactly what I was looking for, the code.interact() stuff.

BioGeek · Accepted Answer · 2021-06-29 19:58:11Z

2

If I understand you correctly, you want to load files into variables and play around with those variables.

I think the better option, instead of your proposed makeshift workspace, is to use a Jupyter notebook.

This video gives a good introduction on how the workflow looks like to read an Excel file and play around with it.

answered Jun 29, 2021 at 19:58

BioGeek

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