e 1.4.5

Evaluate and display command line expressions with python -me expr

For example:

$ python -me 1 + 1
2

Like python -c but no need for a print. But wait, there’s more.

As a bonus, if the first argument is a module name then it will output the location of the module source code:

$ python -me os
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/lib/python2.6/os.py

If you follow the name of the module with a command then the module will be opened with that command. For example, the following will open the os module source in vim:

$ python -me os vim

The “e” module recognises the special command names “edit” and “view” which will result in it looking up your editor and viewer commands in the environment variables $EDITOR and $PAGER respectively. The latter defaults to “less”. This is slightly easier than writing, for example:

$ vim `python -me os`

… especially if you’re going back to edit a previous “python -me” command using line editing.

Also, “python -me help” is a shortcut to Python’s interactive help mechanism.

Idea from Georg Brandl. Foolishly implemented by Michael Foord and Richard Jones.