File creation, polluted name space?

[Derek Rhodes]

This is a python session I had running
Python 2.3.3 (win32)

-----------------------------------------------
IDLE 1.0.2
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<pyshell#4>", line 1, in -toplevel-
infile = open("file3", 'w')
TypeError: an integer is required----------------------------------------------------------
after I < from import os * > I can't seem to create a file
by the method shown above.

The error indicates that an integer is required,
however, I don't see how an integer would fit
in here.
Does anyone know what's going on?
Is the name space being polluted?

-derek

 

[Josiah Carlson]

Does anyone know what's going on?
Yes

Is the name space being polluted?

Yes

Try:

help(open)
import os
help(os.open)

Note the different arguments and help output.

- Josiah

 

[Christopher A. Craig]

after I < from import os * > I can't seem to create a file
by the method shown above.

Then don't from os import *

The "from spam import *" construct is known to be susceptible to all
kinds of name space collisions and its use is generally discouraged.

Unless you _really_ know what you're doing and have a _really_ good
reason, either use "import spam" or "from spam import ham,eggs". If
you have a really good reason, you may want to rethink it anyway.