.py vs .pyc

[Duncan Booth]

Sakcee wrote:

> is execution of pyc files faster than py files? since both files are
> interpreted by python , is there any speedup in using one or other?
> 
> what is difference if i type from cmd line,
> python test.py  vs. python test.pyc
> 
There was no need to post your question twice.

Python compiles .py files and (if it can) saves the compiled code in a .pyc 
file. Next time around it can simply load the .pyc file and bypass the 
compilation stage. There is no difference in execution speed, in both cases 
the same compiled code will be executed.

The main script (the one named on the command line) works slightly 
differently from imported modules in that a .pyc file is not automatically 
generated or used, so the compilation happens every time.
Unless you have a very large script the difference in load time is not 
likely to be noticeable (and if you have a very large script then you 
should split it into modules).