Is there a way around coding in Python without the tab, indent & whitespace criteria?

Question

I want to start using Python for small projects but the fact that a misplaced tab or indent can throw a compile error is really getting on my nerves. Is there some type of s

Answer 1

If you don't want to use an IDE/text editor with automatic indenting, you can use the pindent.py script that comes in the Tools\Scripts directory. It's a preprocessor that can convert code like:

def foobar(a, b):
if a == b:
a = a+1
elif a < b:
b = b-1
if b > a: a = a-1
end if
else:
print 'oops!'
end if
end def foobar

into:

def foobar(a, b):
   if a == b:
       a = a+1
   elif a < b:
       b = b-1
       if b > a: a = a-1
       # end if
   else:
       print 'oops!'
   # end if
# end def foobar

Which is valid python.

Answer 2

I'm currently using NotePad++. Is there maybe an IDE that would take care of the tabs and indenting?

I liked pydev extensions of eclipse for that.

Answer 3

pybraces

It's unsupported.

Answer 4

Emacs! Seriously, its use of "tab is a command, not a character", is absolutely perfect for python development.

Answer 5

Not really. There are a few ways to modify whitespace rules for a given line of code, but you will still need indent levels to determine scope.

You can terminate statements with ; and then begin a new statement on the same line. (Which people often do when golfing.)

If you want to break up a single line into multiple lines you can finish a line with the \ character which means the current line effectively continues from the first non-whitespace character of the next line. This visually appears violate the usual whitespace rules but is legal.

My advice: don't use tabs if you are having tab/space confusion. Use spaces, and choose either 2 or 3 spaces as your indent level.

A good editor will make it so you don't have to worry about this. (python-mode for emacs, for example, you can just use the tab key and it will keep you honest).

Answer 6

Strange - No one mentioned GEdit (Gnome) or OpenKomodo (Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux...). Both of them are great!

OpenKomodo especially deals with tabs and spaces very well. And - it's free. Whee! When I need a lighter weight thingy, I just use GEdit.

Download OpenKomodo here - http://www.openkomodo.com/