> It's probably worth looking into, though. Why does IPython evaluate
> 'str' in the user's namespace? Assigning to 'str' in the user's
> namespace certainly doesn't affect the __builtins__ (if it did, that's
> definitely a bug!)

Yes, that is true.  I guess it really depends on how IPython is
calling str and that is worth looking at.

Brian

> --
> Robert Kern
>
> "I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless
> enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as
> though it had an underlying truth."
>  -- Umberto Eco
>
> --
> error message "str object not callable" when not calling string
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/355837
> You received this bug notification because you are a member of IPython
> Developers, which is subscribed to IPython.
>
> Status in IPython - Enhanced Interactive Python: New
>
> Bug description:
> There have been a few times where, when writing a for-loop, I will get a "'str' object is not callable" when I expect just to hit RET and begin writing the rest of the loop. The problem fixes itself when I log out and back ino ipython. I thought it might be related to defining a python name like "dict" in the example below, but I don't think so. Below is a transcript of the last occurrence.
>
> I am using ipython 0.8.4 on an IBM Thinkpad x31 running Ubuntu Ibex.
>
>
> In [31]: dict = {'a':'b','c':'d'}
>
> In [32]: str = 'wqe'
>
> In [33]: for i,j in dict:
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> KeyboardInterrupt
>
> In [33]: dict
> Out[34]: {'a': 'b', 'c': 'd'}
>
> In [35]: i
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)
>
> /home/shaunalynn/<ipython console> in <module>()
>
> NameError: name 'i' is not defined
>
> In [36]: j
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)
>
> /home/shaunalynn/<ipython console> in <module>()
>
> NameError: name 'j' is not defined
>
> In [37]: for i, j in dict:
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> KeyboardInterrupt
>
> In [37]: dictionary = {'a':'b','c','d'}
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>   File "<ipython console>", line 1
>     dictionary = {'a':'b','c','d'}
>                              ^
> SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>
>
> In [39]: dictionary = {'a':'b','c'"'d'}
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>   File "<ipython console>", line 1
>     dictionary = {'a':'b','c'"'d'}
>                                  ^
> SyntaxError: EOL while scanning single-quoted string
>
>
> In [40]: dictionary = {'a':'b','c':'d'}
>
> In [41]: for i, j in dictionary:
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> <ERROR: 'str' object is not callable>
> KeyboardInterrupt
>
> In [41]:
>
> In [42]: exit()
> Do you really want to exit ([y]/n)?
> shaunalynn@duffles:~$ ipython
> Python 2.5.2 (r252:60911, Oct  5 2008, 19:24:49)
> Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>
> IPython 0.8.4 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
> ?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
> %quickref -> Quick reference.
> help      -> Python's own help system.
> object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.
>
> In [1]: dict = {'a':'b','c':'d'}
>
> In [2]: for i, j in dict:
>   ...:     print i,j
>



-- 
Brian E. Granger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physics
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
<email address hidden>
<email address hidden>