How to detect if a Python script is executed from inside IDEA/PyCharm ? Follow

Created September 16, 2011 16:06

Recently IDEA/PyCharm added support of ANSI escape codes in the console. Still this does not mean that scripts will always be able to use coloring.

Here is the problem: normally a script is supposed to detect if it is executed from inside a tty or not. The PyCharm console is supposed to be a tty but it seams that it isn't. In fact it seams to be a file and due to this the color output will not work (you are not supposed to output ansi escapes if your stdout or stderr is a file).

Here is the detailed question with sample code http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7445658/how-to-detect-if-the-console-does-support-ansi-escape-codes-in-python

How do I tune the code in order to use ANSI coloring when it is available?

6 comments

Dmitry Jemerov

Created September 16, 2011 16:32

Hello Sorin,

There is no general solution to this problem. You can define an environment

variable in your run configurations (RUNNING_INSIDE_PYCHARM or something

like that) and check for its existence in your scripts.

Recently IDEA/PyCharm added support of ANSI escape codes in the

console. Still this does not mean that scripts will always be able to

use coloring.

Here is the problem: normally a script is supposed to detect if it is

executed from inside a tty or not. The PyCharm console is supposed to

be a tty but it seams that it isn't. In fact it seams to be a file and

due to this the color output will not work (you are not supposed to

output ansi escapes if your stdout or stderr is a file).

Here is the detailed question with sample code

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7445658/how-to-detect-if-the-consol

e-does-support-ansi-escape-codes-in-python

How do I tune the code in order to use ANSI coloring when it is

available?

Dmitry Jemerov

Development Lead

JetBrains, Inc.

http://www.jetbrains.com/

"Develop with Pleasure!"

ssbarnea

Created September 16, 2011 17:08

Hi Dmitry,

Thanks for the hint but I cannot consider this as solution. I am looking for something that would not require people to do something in order to use this functionality.

Is it impossible to detect PyCharm environment from the running script?

Dmitry Jemerov

Created September 16, 2011 17:32

Hello Sorin,

The only other solution would be for PyCharm to define such an environment

variable automatically in all run configurations.

Thanks for the hint but I cannot consider this as solution. I am

looking for something that would not require people to do something in

order to use this functionality.

Is it impossible to detect PyCharm environment from the running

script?

Dmitry Jemerov

Development Lead

JetBrains, Inc.

http://www.jetbrains.com/

"Develop with Pleasure!"