Python – Why does pressing Ctrl-backslash result in core dump

backslashcoredumpctrlpython

When I'm in a python application (the python shell, for instance), pressing Ctrl\ results in

>>> Quit (core dumped)

Why is this, and how can I avoid this?
It is very inconvenient if application bails out whenever I press Ctrl\ by accident.

Best Answer

CTRL-\ is the Linux key that generates the QUIT signal. Generally, that signal causes a program to terminate and dump core. This is a feature of UNIX and Linux, wholly unrelated to Python. (For example, try sleep 30 followed by CTRL-\.)

If you want to disable that feature, use the stty command.

From the Linux command line, before Python starts:

stty quit undef

Related Solutions

Python – Calling a function of a module by using its name (a string)

Assuming module foo with method bar:

import foo
method_to_call = getattr(foo, 'bar')
result = method_to_call()

You could shorten lines 2 and 3 to:

result = getattr(foo, 'bar')()

if that makes more sense for your use case.

You can use getattr in this fashion on class instance bound methods, module-level methods, class methods... the list goes on.

Linux – Why are core dump files generated

A process dumps core when it is terminated by the operating system due to a fault in the program. The most typical reason this occurs is because the program accessed an invalid pointer value. Given that you have a sporadic dump, it's likely that you are using an uninitialized pointer.

Can you post the code that is causing the fault? Other than vague generalizations it's hard to guess what's wrong without actually seeing code.

As for what a core dump actually is, check out this Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_dump

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Python – Calling a function of a module by using its name (a string)

Linux – Why are core dump files generated

Related Topic