How to Prevent .pyc File Creation in Python?

Preventing .pyc Files in Python

Can Python be executed without generating .pyc files?

Answer:

As per "What's New in Python 2.6 - Interpreter Changes," you can prevent the creation of .pyc or .pyo files by using the -B switch when invoking the Python interpreter or by setting the PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE environment variable before executing the interpreter. This setting can be accessed within Python programs as sys.dont_write_bytecode, allowing you to alter the interpreter's behavior. To prevent the generation of .pyc files, run your program as python -B prog.py.

In Python 3.2, the issue of .pyc files cluttering source folders has been addressed by introducing a dedicated __pycache__ subfolder.

Note on Performance Considerations:

By default, Python generates bytecode for performance reasons. Configuring your Python environment with PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 can negatively impact performance. For detailed information on the performance impact, refer to the official Python documentation and performance analysis resources such as cpython.

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