question on python syntax

[a.m.]

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.

[Andrew Robert]

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.

This not python syntax but Unix shell.

$ = shell prompt
../ = look for the program in my current working directory
yourfile.py = the program name
12:34 = argument 1
PM = argument 2
& = run in background

[Steve Holden]

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
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