What are the different possible values for name in a Python script, and what do they mean?

Question

Checking to see if __name__ == '__main__' is a common idiom to run some code when the file is being called directly, rather than through a module.

In the process of writing a custom command for Django's manage.py, I found myself needing to use code.InteractiveConsole, which gives the effect to the user of a standard python shell. In some test code I was doing, I found that in the script I'm trying to execute, I get that __name__ is __console__, which caused my code (dependent on __main__) to not run.

I'm fairly certain that I have some things in my original implementation to change, but it got me wondering as to what different things __name__ could be. I couldn't find any documentation on the possible values, nor what they mean, so that's how I ended up here.

S.Lott · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-10 23:51:22Z

9

from the document of class code.InteractiveInterpreter([locals]):
The optional locals argument specifies the dictionary in which code will be executed; it defaults to a newly created dictionary with key '__name__' set to '__console__' and key '__doc__' set to None. maybe u can turnning the locals argument, set __name__ with __main__, or change the test clause from

if __name__ == '__main__'
to  
if __name__ in set(["__main__", "__console__"])

Hope it helps.

edited Jul 10, 2009 at 23:51

S.Lott

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answered Jul 10, 2009 at 22:30

sunqiang

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2 Comments

Gringo Suave Over a year ago

Probably don't need the set() or list, could use a single tuple of strings.

sunqiang Over a year ago

@GringoSuave agree,:)

Algorias · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-10 22:04:25Z

6

__name__ is usually the module name, but it's changed to '__main__' when the module in question is executed directly instead of being imported by another one.

I understand that other values can only be set directly by the code you're running.

answered Jul 10, 2009 at 22:04

Algorias

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1 Comment

S.Lott Over a year ago

See docs.python.org/reference/toplevel_components.html for additional information. __name__ IS the module name. __main__ is a special module.

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