Make function definition in a python file order independent

Question

I use Python CGI. I cannot call a function before it is defined.

In Oracle PL/SQL there was this trick of "forward declaration": naming all the functions on top so the order of defining doesn't matter.

Is there such a trick in Python as well?

example:

def do_something(ds_parameter):
    helper_function(ds_parameter)
    ....

def helper_function(hf_parameter):
    ....

def main():
    do_something(my_value)

main()

David is right, my example is wrong. What about:

<start of cgi-script>

def do_something(ds_parameter):
    helper_function(ds_parameter) 
    .... 

def print_something(): 
    do_something(my_value) 

print_something() 

def helper_function(hf_parameter): 
    .... 

def main()
    ....

main()

Can I "forward declare" the functions at the top of the script?

Answer 1

All functions must be defined before any are used.

However, the functions can be defined in any order, as long as all are defined before any executable code uses a function.

You don't need "forward declaration" because all declarations are completely independent of each other. As long as all declarations come before all executable code.

Are you having a problem? If so, please post the code that doesn't work.

---

In your example, print_something() is out of place.

The rule: All functions must be defined before any code that does real work

Therefore, put all the statements that do work last.