Question

This may be an extremely unitiated question, but what do you do in the command line of Python? and what are all the code files and packs that come with when you download it?

Answer 1

Whatever you want to do, i.e. execute any type of python code there. Those all other files are either Python files or Python Standard Library codes.

Answer 2

Isn't the command line more powerful than just a script? I can tell if they are files are python codes, but what about the ones that are executed by the command line and not IDLE? what is the "anything" i can do via the command line, that i can't do in idle or running a script?

Answer 3

Python shell in IDLE is like command line when you start Python from the shell (cmd on windows). Here you can test short snipets of code, check some code you are not certain what exactly do, or ask for help with function help(), for example help(string) will list you all the methods on the string object. Of course, is method or object that you asking about is not imported you must do it first.
Hope this help you.

Answer 4

@pedja Ok, so command line is practically the same as the shell? 'Cause the scripts seem to be programmed to open via the command line (if you just double click them in windows) which then closes automatically. I mean, it's not a big problem, i just open the scripts with ctrl+o when in IDLE: I'm just curious what's going on there, when command line opens the scripts. it executes them you say? But is the difference then only that IDLE has some extra features?

Answer 5

Type python in command line.



C:\Users\pedja\Desktop>python
Python 2.7.3 (default, Apr 10 2012, 23:31:26) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win
32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
Seems familiar?
You just started Python interpreter, aka Python shell. Same that is integrated in IDLE.
When you execute script from command line with <python script_name.py>
you call for python interpreter to execute that script.
In IDLE you do the same fith F5.
So, IDLE is IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironment, text editor and Python shell
packed together, it makes life easier when it comes to testing your code.
To tell the truth, there are much better text editors than one built in IDLE, to have a choice to see line numbers will be nice feature, for example.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Sorry if I made spelling or grammar mistakes, I'm not a native English speaker.

Answer 6

@Weltgeist
There is hack to window blink and disapear on double click, try to search for it.

Answer 7

Here's my style hack - I made a registry fix ... http://dl.dropbox.com/u/38368203/Junk/Python-Window-AutoExit-Prevention.reg?dl=1 Tell me if this has any problem.