When running a python script in IDLE, is there a way to pass in command line arguments (args)?

Question

I\'m testing some python code that parses command line input. Is there a way to pass this input in through IDLE? Currently I\'m saving in the IDLE editor and running from a

Answer 1

Command-line arguments have been added to IDLE in Python 3.7.4+. To auto-detect (any and older) versions of IDLE, and prompt for command-line argument values, you may paste (something like) this into the beginning of your code:

#! /usr/bin/env python3

import sys

def ok(x=None):
      sys.argv.extend(e.get().split())
      root.destroy()


if 'idlelib.rpc' in sys.modules:

      import tkinter as tk

      root = tk.Tk()
      tk.Label(root, text="Command-line Arguments:").pack()

      e = tk.Entry(root)
      e.pack(padx=5)

      tk.Button(root, text="OK", command=ok,
                default=tk.ACTIVE).pack(pady=5)

      root.bind("<Return>", ok)
      root.bind("<Escape>", lambda x: root.destroy())

      e.focus()
      root.wait_window()

You would follow that with your regular code. ie. print(sys.argv)

Note that with IDLE in Python 3.7.4+, when using the Run... Customized command, it is NOT necessary to import sys to access argv.

If used in python 2.6/2.7 then be sure to capitalize: import Tkinter as tk

For this example I've tried to strike a happy balance between features & brevity. Feel free to add or take away features, as needed!

Answer 2

import sys

sys.argv = [sys.argv[0], '-arg1', 'val1', '-arg2', 'val2']

//If you're passing command line for 'help' or 'verbose' you can say as:

sys.argv = [sys.argv[0], '-h']

Answer 3

Answer from veganaiZe produces a KeyError outside IDLE with python 3.6.3. This can be solved by replacing if sys.modules['idlelib']: by if 'idlelib' in sys.modules: as below.

import argparse
# Check if we are using IDLE
if 'idlelib' in sys.modules:
    # IDLE is present ==> we are in test mode
    print("""====== TEST MODE =======""")
    args = parser.parse_args([list of args])
else:
    # It's command line, this is production mode.
    args = parser.parse_args()

Answer 4

Based on the post by danben, here is my solution that works in IDLE:

try:  
    sys.argv = ['fibo3_5.py', '30']  
    fibonacci(int(sys.argv[1]))  
except:  
    print(str('Then try some other way.'))  

Answer 5

Auto-detect IDLE and Prompt for Command-line Arguments

#! /usr/bin/env python3

import sys

# Prompt user for (optional) command line arguments, when run from IDLE:
if 'idlelib' in sys.modules: sys.argv.extend(input("Args: ").split())

Change "input" to "raw_input" for Python2.