Python 3.8: IndexError when using append()

Question

I made a little "console" that splits the command with split(). I am separating the "command" (the first "word" from the input()) from the "arguments" coming after the first word. Here's the code that generates an error:

cmdCompl = input(prompt).strip().split()
cmdRaw = cmdCompl[0]
args = addArgsToList(cmdCompl)

addArgsToList() function:

def addArgsToList(lst=[]):
    newList = []
    for i in range(len(lst)):
        newList.append(lst[i+1])
    return newList

I try to add every word after cmdRaw to a list called args which is returned by addArgsToList(). But what I get instead is:

Welcome to the test console!

Type help or ? for a list of commands

testconsole >>> help
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "testconsole.py", line 25, in <module>
    args = addArgsToList(cmdCompl)
  File "testconsole.py", line 15, in addArgsToList
    newList.append(lst[i+1])
IndexError: list index out of range

I cannot figure out why I get an IndexError because as far as I know, newList can be dynamically allocated.

Any help?

Answer 1

You should do like this:

if you wish to avoid first element to be appended

def addArgsToList(lst=[]):
    newList = []
    for i in range(1,len(lst)):
        newList.append(lst[i])
    return newList

if you just trying to copy the elements in a new list just do this:

newList = lst[1:].copy()