Syntax error with Python one-liner

Question

python -c \'import sys; print \"a\"\'

works, and

python -c \'for a in [1, 2, 3]: print a\'

works, but

<         


        

Answer 1

Not an answer to your exact question, but still may help someone. You can actually split the command line in shell.

sh/bash/etc:

python -c 'import sys
for a in [1, 2, 3]: print a'

Windows cmd (C:\> and 'More?' are cmd prompts, don't enter those):

C:\>python -c import sys^
More?
More? for a in [1, 2, 3]: print a

Answer 2

You can only use ; to separate non-compound statements on a single line; the grammar makes no allowance for a non-compound statement and a compound statement separated by a semicolon.

The relevant grammar rules are as follows:

stmt: simple_stmt | compound_stmt
simple_stmt: small_stmt (';' small_stmt)* [';'] NEWLINE

The ; in the simple_stmt production is the only place where semicolons are allowed to separate statements. For further details, see the full Python grammar.