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idle time

IDLE ...at a glance

You’ll be using IDLE to enter all of the Python code in this book, so it’s
worth taking a little time to familiarize yourself with a few of its features.
Even though IDLE looks like a simple editor, it’s actually packed full
of smarts that will make Python programming much easier and faster
for you. It’s worth spending some time exploring IDLE’s menus and help
system, but for now here’s a few handy hints to help you feel at home.

When you type a “:" and You can change the way The Help menu not only
gives you help about
IDLE uses colors and
hit ENTER, Python will indenting by clicking on the IDLE, but it also lets you
automatically and correctly Options menu (on the Mac read the built-in Python
indent the next line for you. it's called Preferences). documentation.

Before you type in “else:", make
sure you hit BACKSPACE to
move the indent back one level.
By default IDLE If you press TAB, IDLE
idents using 4 SPACEs. converts it into SPACE
characters.

22 Chapter 1