Starting Python... some questions

[Jordan Greenberg]

jezonthenet at yahoo.com wrote:
> I started using Python a couple of days ago - here are a few
> questions:
> 
> * Doesn't the __main__() method automatically execute when I run my
> python program?
> * Only when I do an import of my test.py file within python and then
> run test.__main__() I can see where my bugs are. Is this correct?
> (right now this is my only way of running my python program and see
> where I have problems)

No, there is no special __main__ function, to the best of my knowledge. 
I think the idiom you're thinking of is:

if __name__="__main__":
	#Your main stuff here

But that won't execute if you do an import. Only when you call the 
script directly, like:

python myscript.py

for example.

> * Once I've done an import and then I wish to make a change to the
> file I've imported I have to quit Python, restart and import that
> module again in order for the module to be refreshed. Is there no "re-
> import" ?

There is. The reload command. Usage is similar to import:

import MyModule
#Do your edit, and reload thusly:
reload MyModule

> * Finally, could someone tell me why I'm having problems with the
> small module below?
>   - Python pretends I provide chassis_id() with three parameters, even
> though I clearly only provide it with two - why?
Python expects self as the first parameter. You might want to take 
another look at the class bits of your tutorial of choice, or:
http://docs.python.org/tut/node11.html

The function definition should look more like:

def chassis_id(self, subtype, chassis_info):

HTH.
-Jordan Greenberg