question on python syntax

[Steve Holden]

a.m. wrote:
> If I type this in shell
> 
> $ ./yourfile.py 12:34 PM &
> 
> What does '$', '.', '/' and '& means in this succession? Note: 12:34
> PM is a argument to the yourfile.py.
> 
"$" is the shell prompting you to let you know it's ready for you to 
type a command.

"./" says "look in the current directory for a file called ...".

Since the first token in the command contains a path separator ("/") the 
normal mechanism of looking for the executable in each of the 
directories in the current $PATH is not used [if you don't understand 
this sentence, ignore it].

"&" says "run this command in the background and immediately prompt for 
another command, instead of waiting for the command to finish like you 
usually do".

Technically, by the way, 12:34 PM is *two* arguments to the yourfile.py, 
not one.

regards
  Steve
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