>>> Is there a way that I can provide the file name command line parameters >>> to compare.py so that its get_args function can be tested? >> >> sys.argv is writeable, or better still, provide get_args() an optional >> argument to use instead of sys.argv.o > > > I don't understand what you mean by "sys.argv is writeable".
Hi Alex, I think Steven's suggestion to have get_args() take in an explicit args argument makes the most sense: it allows the function to be testable. If the behavior of the "function" depends on something outside of the function, making that thing an explicit parameter allows you to capture it. It makes the free variable something under your control. What "sys.argv is writeable" means is that you can take a sledgehammer approach: you can save the old value of sys.argv somewhere in another temporary variable, assign sys.argv to the test value, do your tests, and then assign the original value back to sys.argv. But this approach is very fragile: anything else that depends on sys.argv can suddenly stop working. _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
