How do you develop in Python?

[Gerrit Muller]

"Lou Pecora" <pecora at anvil.nrl.navy.mil> schreef in bericht
news:050620011516094693%pecora at anvil.nrl.navy.mil...
> I program in Python occassionally and would like to do more of it.  But
> here's a development conundrum I run into a lot (there are more complex
> examples, but I'll give an easy one).  I am developing module A.py
> which imports B.py in the IDE.  I am running test code which is also in
> A.py as I incrementally develop A.py.  Then I need to change B.py and,
> of course, the import does not import the new changes since import only
> works once.  Hence,  to "refresh" B.py I have to quit the IDE and
> restart, open A.py and run.  This is clumsy.  However, the above
> scenario is not uncommon and more complex interdependencies of modules
> appear to make it unavoidable.  Anyone know a way to get around this
> "import" problem?   I know there is a "reload", but then I have to
> import and change my modules' code to "reload" or something each time I
> work with them.  Any help appreciated.
>
> I use Python on a Macintosh.  Nice IDE, otherwise.

I certainly recognize your problem. Occasionaly I have used reload() to
"solve" this behavior. However for more "naive" programmers (CP4E-like) this
behavior can give many unexpected results. I do recognize the power of the
current dynamic loader behavior, but I think that a more "cold" runscript
command in IDLE, which imports/reloads anything again (and maybe clears the
rest of the environment as well) would make IDLE even more accessible for
this type of programmers.

Regards Gerrit