Comment/uncomment particular txt line in python

Question

I'd like to take a text file, and for each line, try to comment that line (write to file), check whether an external script works, and if not, uncomment it. Finally, this should result in a txt file with unnecessary code lines commented out.

I tried to copy the text file into a list, and then iterate over it, each time writing the entire file. Is there a better solution?

Sounds like you're taking on the Halting Problem. How do you know whether the program worked? Exitcode is zero? — Brian Cain
– Brian Cain, Commented Sep 6, 2014 at 21:15
It is an external script, which takes my txt file as an input — Pawel Bala
– Pawel Bala, Commented Sep 6, 2014 at 21:18

Dolda2000 · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-06 21:30:30Z

1

I tried to copy the text file into a list, and then iterate over it, each time writing the entire file. Is there a better solution?

No, there isn't really any vastly better solution. You need move around all the data following the line anyway, since you're adding or removing text in the middle of the file.

In the best case, you could optimize your program to only move the data after the line you're currently editing, but that optimization is going to be rather minor anyway, and still not effect the actual scaling of the program as a whole, so I'd argue it isn't worth it.

Certainly, the actual running of the program is going to be vastly more expensive than just writing the file anyway, so optimizing that part doesn't matter much. :)

answered Sep 6, 2014 at 21:30

Dolda2000

26k4 gold badges58 silver badges94 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Comment/uncomment particular txt line in python

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related