Python import vs direct execution

Question

#conf.py
def init():
 global mylist 
 mylist=[]
#change.py
import conf
def change():
 if __name__ == "__main__":
 print('Direct')
 conf.mylist.append('Directly executed')
 print(conf.mylist)
 else:
 conf.mylist.append('It was imported') 
#exec.py
import conf
import change
conf.init() 
change.change()
print (conf.mylist)

When running exec.py the result is what I expected, but when running change.py directly I didn't get any output (no Direct , no conf.mylist)

Answer 1

Yes, that's the normal behavior. You need to call the change function for this code to execute.

You can add the following to the end of change.py

if __name__=="__main__":
 change()

Answer 2

This is because change is never invoked. Invoke it at the end of the file with change()