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pythonpython-2.7python-3.xprintingflush

Need Python 3.4 version of print() from __future__


Currently, when I

from __future__ import print_function

from Python 2.7.6, I apparently get a version of print() prior to the addition of the flush keyword argument, which went in Python 3.3 according to the docs. The Python3 installed in my system (Ubuntu) is Python 3.4, and I verified its print() function has the flush argument.

How do I import the print() function from 3.4? From where is __future__ getting the older print function?


Solution

  • You cannot get the version from 3.4 imported into Python 2.7, no. Just flush sys.stdout manually after printing:

    import sys
    
    print(...)
    sys.stdout.flush()
    

    Or you can create a wrapper function around print() if you have to have something that accepts the keyword argument:

    from __future__ import print_function
    import sys
    try:
        # Python 3
        import builtins
    except ImportError:
        # Python 2
        import __builtin__ as builtins
    
    
    def print(*args, **kwargs):
        sep, end = kwargs.pop('sep', ' '), kwargs.pop('end', '\n')
        file, flush = kwargs.pop('file', sys.stdout), kwargs.pop('flush', False)
        if kwargs:
            raise TypeError('print() got an unexpected keyword argument {!r}'.format(next(iter(kwargs))))
        builtins.print(*args, sep=sep, end=end, file=file)
        if flush:
            file.flush()
    

    This creates a replacement version that'll work just the same as the version in 3.3 and up.