a.m. wrote: > If I type this in shell > > $ ./yourfile.py 12:34 PM & > > What does '$', '.', '/' and '& means in this succession? Note: 12:34 > PM is a argument to the yourfile.py. > "$" is the shell prompting you to let you know it's ready for you to type a command.
"./" says "look in the current directory for a file called ...". Since the first token in the command contains a path separator ("/") the normal mechanism of looking for the executable in each of the directories in the current $PATH is not used [if you don't understand this sentence, ignore it]. "&" says "run this command in the background and immediately prompt for another command, instead of waiting for the command to finish like you usually do". Technically, by the way, 12:34 PM is *two* arguments to the yourfile.py, not one. regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com Skype: holdenweb http://del.icio.us/steve.holden --------------- Asciimercial ------------------ Get on the web: Blog, lens and tag the Internet Many services currently offer free registration ----------- Thank You for Reading ------------- -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list