without def main() = O, with def main() = X

Question

I made following functions but it generates errors when I use main functions despite no error without usage of main function

def setup_name():
    print("Before we start...","\n"
          "What is your name?")
    char_name = input("Name : ").strip().capitalize()
    return char_name

def intro():
    print(cname," is building great walls now")
    print()

cname = setup_name()
intro()

But below gives me error

def setup_name():
    print("Before we start...","\n"
          "What is your name?")
    char_name = input("Name : ").strip().capitalize()
    return char_name

def intro():
    print(cname," is building great walls now")
    print()

def main():
    cname = setup_name()
    intro()
main()

To me, it seems no difference exist here so I think i need some sharp eyes.

Thanks!

`cname` is local to your `main` function in the second example, so intro can't access it. It was global in your first example. So, you see, global variables can be evil and should be avoided! — Thierry Lathuille, Mar 12 '17 at 00:09

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:17

2

cname is no longer scoped at the module level (its current scope is now function main) in the second version, so you'll get a NameError when intro tries to use cname.

You'll need to explicitly pass cname to intro, to make it work in the second version.

See Short Description of the Scoping Rules?.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:17

Community

1
1

answered Mar 12 '17 at 00:07

Moses Koledoye

77,341
8
133
139

woah! The hyperlinked resource is something I haven't covered yet! Thanks for the resource and comment! it really helped me! – Joseph Kim Mar 12 '17 at 00:21

without def main() = O, with def main() = X

1 Answers1