What Does the python -v Command Do
Asked Answered
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28

I recently reinstalled my macOS and I wanted to check the version of Python. I typed python -v into the terminal and I am not sure what this did? I am new to the terminal and python programming. Did I install new software on accident?

Last login: Sun May 14 15:02:37 on ttys000
Matthews-MacBook-Pro:~ matthewkol$ python -v
# installing zipimport hook
import zipimport # builtin
# installed zipimport hook
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.py
import site # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py
import os # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.pyc
import errno # builtin
import posix # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/posixpath.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/posixpath.py
import posixpath # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/posixpath.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/stat.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/stat.py
import stat # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/stat.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/genericpath.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/genericpath.py
import genericpath # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/genericpath.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/warnings.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/warnings.py
import warnings # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/warnings.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/linecache.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/linecache.py
import linecache # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/linecache.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/types.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/types.py
import types # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/types.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/UserDict.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/UserDict.py
import UserDict # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/UserDict.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_abcoll.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_abcoll.py
import _abcoll # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_abcoll.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/abc.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/abc.py
import abc # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/abc.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_weakrefset.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_weakrefset.py
import _weakrefset # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_weakrefset.pyc
import _weakref # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/copy_reg.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/copy_reg.py
import copy_reg # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/copy_reg.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/traceback.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/traceback.py
import traceback # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/traceback.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.py
import sysconfig # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sysconfig.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/re.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/re.py
import re # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/re.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.py
import sre_compile # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_compile.pyc
import _sre # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.py
import sre_parse # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_parse.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.py
import sre_constants # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/sre_constants.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_locale.so", 2);
import _locale # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_locale.so
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_sysconfigdata.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_sysconfigdata.py
import _sysconfigdata # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_sysconfigdata.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_osx_support.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_osx_support.py
import _osx_support # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/_osx_support.pyc
import encodings # directory /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/__init__.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/__init__.py
import encodings # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/__init__.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/codecs.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/codecs.py
import codecs # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/codecs.pyc
import _codecs # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/aliases.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/aliases.py
import encodings.aliases # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/aliases.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/utf_8.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/utf_8.py
import encodings.utf_8 # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/encodings/utf_8.pyc
Python 2.7.10 (default, Feb  6 2017, 23:53:20) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 8.0.0 (clang-800.0.34)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/readline.so", 2);
import readline # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/readline.so
>>> help
Type help() for interactive help, or help(object) for help about object.
>>> help(object)
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pydoc.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pydoc.py
import pydoc # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pydoc.pyc
import imp # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/inspect.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/inspect.py
import inspect # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/inspect.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/string.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/string.py
import string # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/string.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/strop.so", 2);
import strop # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/strop.so
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/dis.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/dis.py
import dis # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/dis.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/opcode.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/opcode.py
import opcode # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/opcode.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/tokenize.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/tokenize.py
import tokenize # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/tokenize.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/itertools.so", 2);
import itertools # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/itertools.so
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/token.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/token.py
import token # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/token.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/operator.so", 2);
import operator # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/operator.so
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/collections.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/collections.py
import collections # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/collections.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_collections.so", 2);
import _collections # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_collections.so
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/keyword.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/keyword.py
import keyword # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/keyword.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/heapq.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/heapq.py
import heapq # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/heapq.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_heapq.so", 2);
import _heapq # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_heapq.so
import thread # builtin
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pkgutil.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pkgutil.py
import pkgutil # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/pkgutil.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/repr.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/repr.py
import repr # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/repr.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/locale.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/locale.py
import locale # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/locale.pyc
# /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/functools.pyc matches /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/functools.py
import functools # precompiled from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/functools.pyc
dlopen("/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_functools.so", 2);
import _functools # dynamically loaded from /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/_functools.so

>>> python -V
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'python' is not defined
>>> exit
Use exit() or Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit
>>> ^D
# clear __builtin__._
# clear sys.path
# clear sys.argv
# clear sys.ps1
# clear sys.ps2
# clear sys.exitfunc
# clear sys.exc_type
# clear sys.exc_value
# clear sys.exc_traceback
# clear sys.last_type
# clear sys.last_value
# clear sys.last_traceback
# clear sys.path_hooks
# clear sys.path_importer_cache
# clear sys.meta_path
# clear sys.flags
# clear sys.float_info
# restore sys.stdin
# restore sys.stdout
# restore sys.stderr
# cleanup __main__
# cleanup[1] _collections
# cleanup[1] site
# cleanup[1] sysconfig
# cleanup[1] _heapq
# cleanup[1] abc
# cleanup[1] _weakrefset
# cleanup[1] sre_constants
# cleanup[1] collections
# cleanup[1] _codecs
# cleanup[1] opcode
# cleanup[1] _warnings
# cleanup[1] _sysconfigdata
# cleanup[1] repr
# cleanup[1] _osx_support
# cleanup[1] readline
# cleanup[1] strop
# cleanup[1] _functools
# cleanup[1] thread
# cleanup[1] keyword
# cleanup[1] signal
# cleanup[1] traceback
# cleanup[1] pydoc
# cleanup[1] itertools
# cleanup[1] posix
# cleanup[1] exceptions
# cleanup[1] _weakref
# cleanup[1] token
# cleanup[1] heapq
# cleanup[1] locale
# cleanup[1] functools
# cleanup[1] encodings
# cleanup[1] operator
# cleanup[1] pkgutil
# cleanup[1] zipimport
# cleanup[1] inspect
# cleanup[1] encodings.utf_8
# cleanup[1] imp
# cleanup[1] codecs
# cleanup[1] encodings.aliases
# cleanup[1] dis
# cleanup[1] tokenize
# cleanup[1] string
# cleanup[1] re
# cleanup[1] _locale
# cleanup[1] sre_compile
# cleanup[1] _sre
# cleanup[1] sre_parse
# cleanup[2] copy_reg
# cleanup[2] posixpath
# cleanup[2] errno
# cleanup[2] _abcoll
# cleanup[2] types
# cleanup[2] genericpath
# cleanup[2] stat
# cleanup[2] warnings
# cleanup[2] UserDict
# cleanup[2] os.path
# cleanup[2] linecache
# cleanup[2] os
# cleanup sys
# cleanup __builtin__
# cleanup ints: 21 unfreed ints
# cleanup floats
Matthews-MacBook-Pro:~ matthewkol$ 
Saiva answered 15/5, 2017 at 0:14 Comment(3)
Per the official documentation - docs.python.org/3/using/cmdline.html#cmdoption-v. You are using Python 2, but for this particular case it doesn't matter, but here is the py2 docFuqua
You want to use an upper case v for the version. There is a difference between lower case v and upper case v when passing parameters to the python command.Fuqua
Thanks. So am I understanding correctly in that using -v I am importing python modules from the system's Python pre-installed into the terminal so I can write Python scripts from within the terminal? and then when I quit it clears everything imported and cleans everything up?Saiva
G
7

This will show you the way your modules are loading for debugging reasons. (in this case it is just the base modules)

Documentation: https://docs.python.org/2/using/cmdline.html#cmdoption-v

Gemology answered 15/5, 2017 at 0:17 Comment(2)
To make sure I understand correctly, I've imported Python so that I can write Python scripts within the terminal itself? and then when I quit it clears everything out and cleans it up? Also, what exactly occurs when it says it is clearing and cleaning?Saiva
Yes. That is what is happeningGemology
S
14

You didn't do anything wrong. From the man page for Python (accessed by man python):

   -v     Print  a  message each time a module is initialized, showing the
          place (filename or built-in module) from  which  it  is  loaded.
          When  given twice, print a message for each file that is checked
          for when searching for a module.  Also provides  information  on
          module cleanup at exit.

   -V ,  --version
          Prints  the  Python  version number of the executable and exits.
          When given twice, print more information about the build.

Think of the lowercase -v as "verbose"—it's useful for debugging modules. The modules you listed are all from the standard library.

Stomato answered 15/5, 2017 at 0:18 Comment(1)
This should be the accepted answer, as it actually explains what the lowercase -v option did. Very scary for a Python noobie when all that stuff rolls by... ;)Studdard
G
7

This will show you the way your modules are loading for debugging reasons. (in this case it is just the base modules)

Documentation: https://docs.python.org/2/using/cmdline.html#cmdoption-v

Gemology answered 15/5, 2017 at 0:17 Comment(2)
To make sure I understand correctly, I've imported Python so that I can write Python scripts within the terminal itself? and then when I quit it clears everything out and cleans it up? Also, what exactly occurs when it says it is clearing and cleaning?Saiva
Yes. That is what is happeningGemology
D
0

The python -v command is used to run the Python interpreter in verbose mode. When this command is executed, it displays detailed information about the Python program's execution, including all the imported modules, Python version, and the steps taken by the interpreter to execute the program. It can be useful for debugging purposes and understanding the inner workings of Python programs.

Disclimax answered 21/7, 2023 at 13:11 Comment(1)
What does this answer add after 6 years?Yeah

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