Python command line argument semicolon-loop error

Question

I was trying out python -mtimeitso I put python -mtimeit \"n = 0; while n < 10: pass\" Then an invalid syntax error showed up. same with semicol

Answer 1

The selected answer superbly tackles the why, but not the question of how this can be worked around under any operating system (since windows cmd doesn't allow multi-line statements)

The answer is: exec

You have to nest any loops in an exec statement.

Examples: (Python 2)

python -c "i = 3; while i:print i; i-=1"

is a syntax error, while

python -c "i = 3; exec 'while i:print i;i-=1'"

works correctly.