Question

I am writing a Python class to model a process and I want to initialized the parameters from a file, say 'input.dat'. The format of the input file looks like this.

'input.dat' file:

Z0: 0 0
k: 0.1
g: 1
Delta: 20
t_end: 300

The code I wrote is the following. It works but appears redundant and inflexible. Is there a better way to do the job? Such as a loop to do readline() and then match the keyword?

def load(self,filename="input.dat"):
    FILE = open(filename)
    s = FILE.readline().split()
    if len(s) is 3:
        self.z0 = [float(s[1]),float(s[2])] # initial state
    s = FILE.readline().split()
    if len(s) is 2:
        self.k = float(s[1])    # kappa
    s = FILE.readline().split()
    if len(s) is 2:
        self.g = float(s[1])
    s = FILE.readline().split()
    if len(s) is 2:
        self.D = float(s[1])    #  Delta
    s = FILE.readline().split()
    if len(s) is 2:
        self.T = float(s[1])    # end time

Answer 1

• If you are open to some other kind of file where you can keep your parameters, I would suggest you to use a YAML file.
• The Python library is PyYAML. This is how you can easily use it with Python.
• For a better introduction, look at this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YAML.
• The benefit is you can read the parameter values as lists or maps.
• You would love it!