Deleting Python-compiled files

When you run your project for the first time, Python compiles all your *.py code in bytecode-compiled files, *.pyc, which are used later for execution.

Normally, when you change the *.py files, *.pyc is recompiled; however, sometimes when switching branches or moving the directories, you need to clean up the compiled files manually.

Getting ready

Use your favorite editor and edit or create a .bash_profile file in your home directory.

How to do it…

Add this alias at the end of .bash_profile, as follows:

# ~/.bash_profile
alias delpyc="find . -name \"*.pyc\" -delete"

Now, to clean the Python-compiled files, go to your project directory and type the following command in the command line:

$ delpyc

How it works…

At first, we create a Unix alias that searches for the *.pyc files and deletes them in the current directory and its children. The .bash_profile file is executed when you start a new session in the command-line tool.

See also

• The Setting the Subversion ignore property recipe
• The Creating the Git ignore file recipe