python / python/cpython

Add more useful help for special name in `help()`

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interpreter-core type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

Now, use help("__name__") and some other special variables' names will still get the help from their class. I think that we can add the useful help on them. For example:

>>>help("__name__")
1. module.__name__ : if the module is run as the main module, the value is ‘_main_‘, or the name is the filename of the module. For example:if __name__ == "__main__": ...can control which code don’t run when the module is imported.

2. cls.__name__: the name of the class. It must be str.

For other special variables (such as __file__), we can alse print the similar detailed help. And I think that the sentences need to be friendly.

Also welcome to give the ideals on new ideas

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

No response given

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

No response

Linked PRs
  • gh-137966

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First steps

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by running help("name") and compare its current output with the proposed examples for name and file. Done means help() provides friendly, useful explanations for the selected special variables; review linked PR gh-137966 before starting.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
documentation
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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