CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#1

Post by swyx » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 2:15 AM UTC

CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library
til.simonwillison.net

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#2

Post by lizard » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:05 AM UTC

Its notable, perhaps, that the

  if __name__ == "__main__":

block allows you to do this for a _module_, i.e. a single *.py file. If you want to do this for a package, add a `__main__.py`

You can also use either of these throughout your code so that you can have

  python -m foo
  python -m foo.bar
  python -m foo.bar.baz

each doing different, but hopefully somewhat related, things.

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#3

Post by CJefferson » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:06 AM UTC

I use http.server all the time, particularly as modern browsers disable a bunch of functionality if you open file URLs. Had no idea there was so much other stuff here!

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#4

Post by pinkcan » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:11 AM UTC

CJefferson wrote: post #3

I use http.server all the time, particularly as modern browsers disable a bunch of functionality if you open file URLs. Had no idea there was so much other stuff here!

www is aliassed on my .zshrc for that reason:

www='python -m http.server'

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#5

Post by Noumenon72 » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:17 AM UTC

python -m json.tool seems neat. I am always dumping JSON in single log lines and then expanding it to diff it (currently using Cmd+Opt+L in PyCharm).

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#6

Post by dmurray » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:29 AM UTC

Noumenon72 wrote: post #5

python -m json.tool seems neat. I am always dumping JSON in single log lines and then expanding it to diff it (currently using Cmd+Opt+L in PyCharm).

I tend to use "jq .".

An extra tool, but you don't really have to learn it, and if you're "always dumping JSON" and also use the command line a lot, you probably want to have it around anyway.

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#7

Post by cl3misch » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 6:31 AM UTC

Noumenon72 wrote: post #5

python -m json.tool seems neat. I am always dumping JSON in single log lines and then expanding it to diff it (currently using Cmd+Opt+L in PyCharm).

FYI, you can also just pipe into "jq". If anything it's faster to type :-)

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#8

Post by trotro » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 7:05 AM UTC

CJefferson wrote: post #3

I use http.server all the time, particularly as modern browsers disable a bunch of functionality if you open file URLs. Had no idea there was so much other stuff here!

Same here, it's also by far the most convenient way I've found to share files between devices on my network.

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#9

Post by seanw444 » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 7:10 AM UTC

trotro wrote: post #8

CJefferson wrote: post #3

I use http.server all the time, particularly as modern browsers disable a bunch of functionality if you open file URLs. Had no idea there was so much other stuff here!

Same here, it's also by far the most convenient way I've found to share files between devices on my network.

Same for me. Although I just discovered `qrcp` which has been quite handy, and I'm sure there are many tools like it.

Re: CLI tools hidden in the Python standard library

#10

Post by mg » Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 7:10 AM UTC

There is one problem with those: Security.

Using modules (even if they are in the standard library) on the command line lets malicious code in the current dir take over your machine:

https://twitter.com/marekgibney/status/1598706464583028736