Python set function in emacs - weird behavior

Question

I am using emacs (GNU Emacs 24.3.1 (i386-mingw-nt6.1.7601)) as a text editor and interface with python. So far its been fairly straightforward to do everything I want to do with the script I'm working on, but I just came across a weird result using the set function.

The python docs give the following example for the set function:

>>> basket = ['apple', 'orange', 'apple', 'pear', 'orange', 'banana']
>>> fruit = set(basket)               # create a set without duplicates
>>> fruit
set(['orange', 'pear', 'apple', 'banana'])

However, when I run these commands in emacs I get the following error:

>>> basket = ['apple', 'orange', 'apple', 'pear', 'orange', 'banana']
>>> fruit = set(basket)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable

Can anyone explain to me why this is happening and what I should do to recover the functionality of the command? Also, are there other functions that will also fail to work as they normally do?

Thanks.

user2357112 supports Monica user2357112 supports Monica · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-23T03:29:59

You named a variable set, hiding the built-in. Don't name it that. If you want to recover the built-in, restart the interpreter or use

del set

to unassign the variable you made.

Python set function in emacs - weird behavior

1 Answers