11 February 2025

Familiarity with the Python Environment : Interactive Mode vs. Script Mode in Python 

Python provides two ways to execute code: Interactive Mode and Script Mode. Each has its iwn use cases depending on the reuirements of the programmer.

- Interactive Mode (REPL - Read, Eval, Print, Loop)
In this mode, Python Executes commands one line at a time, making it ideal for testing and debugging.

- Features of Interactive Mode:
- Immediate Execution -  Type a command, and Python executes it instantly.

- Best for Testing - Useful for checking small code snippets or functions.

- No File Required - No need to save code in a file before execution.

- Executed in Python Shell - Access via terminal (python or python3).

Example:
>>> print("Hello, World!")
Hello, World!
>>> 5 + 3
8

When to Use?
- Quick calculations
- Testing small code snippets 
- Learning and experimenting with python

- Script Mode (Running Python Files)
In Script Mode, Python code is written and saved in a file with a .py extension, then executed as a whole.

- Features of Script Mode:
- Code Reusability - Wrote once, execute multiple times.
- Larger Programs - Suitable for complex applications.
- Stored in a File - Code is saved for future use.
- Execution Using Terminal - Run usine python filename.py

Example :
# Save this as script.py
print("Welcome to python Script Mode!")

Run in Terminal:
python script.py

Output:
Welcome to Python Script Mode!

- When to Use?
- Writing complete applications
- Automating tasks
- Developing large-scale projects

- Key Differences:

Feature : Execution  
Interactive Mode : Line-by-line
Script Mode :Full script at once

Feature : Use Case
Interactive Mode : Quick testing 
Script Mode : Full programs

Feature : Persistence 
Interactive Mode : Commands are temporary
Script Mode : Code is saved in a file

Feature : Error Handling
Interactive Mode : Stops immediately on error
Script Mode : Checks entire script before execution

Both modes have their own advantages. Interactive Mode is great for quick testing, while Script Mode is essential for real-world applications.

Would you like a more detailed comparison with examples?