Storing user data in a Python script

Question

What is the preferred/ usual way of storing data that is entered by the user when running a Python script, if I need the data again the next time the script runs?

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Answer 1

For small amounts of data, Python's pickle module is great for stashing away data you want easy access to later--just pickle the data objects from memory and write to a (hidden) file in the user's home folder (good for Linux etc.) or Application Data (on Windows).

Of, as @aaronnasterling mentioned, a sqlite3 file-based database is small, fast and easy that it's no wonder that so many popular programs like Firefox and Pidgin use it.