interactive programming

[Sean 'Shaleh' Perry]

On 23-Feb-2001 Chris Richard Adams wrote:
> How can I create a loop - interactively.  I'm just trying to learn
> syntax for example, so Id like to create conditional if statements like
> a = 'feb'
> 
> if a == 'jan':
>       mo = 1
> elif a == 'feb':
>       mo = 2
> elif a == 'mar':
>       mo = 3
> ...
> 
> I tried to type this interactively, but I get a mess of error about
> syntax or mis placed whitespace...
> 

$ python
Python 1.5.2 (#0, Feb 20 2001, 23:57:58)  [GCC 2.95.3 20010125 (prerelease)] on
linux2
Copyright 1991-1995 Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam
>>> 

the >>> is the 'start a command here prompt'

>>> if a == 'jan':
...     print a # the ... is the 'continue previous command', when you see this
...             # you must indent your code (just hit tab or a few spaces)
... elif a == 'feb': # still under the if
...     print a # again, indented
...
feb
>>> # back to start a command