Converting a string of tuples to a list of tuples in Python

Question

How can I convert \"[(5, 2), (1,3), (4,5)]\" into a list of tuples [(5, 2), (1,3), (4,5)]

I am using planetlab shell that doe

Answer 1

If ast.literal_eval is unavailable, you can use the (unsafe!) eval:

>>> s = "[(5, 2), (1,3), (4,5)]"
>>> eval(s)
[(5, 2), (1, 3), (4, 5)]

However, you should really overthink your serialization format. If you're transferring data between Python applications and need the distinction between tuples and lists, use pickle. Otherwise, use JSON.