Using the REPL

Overview

Teaching: 20 min
Exercises: 0 min

Questions

• How to use the REPL?

Objectives

• Explore basic functionality of input.

• Explain how to interpret the ouput of the REPL.

• Explain help, shell and pkg mode.

• Show limitations when using functions and files.

• Provide solution by using the Revise package.

Key Points

• The REPL reads the given input, evaluates the given expression and prints the resulting output to the user.

• Pressing ? enters help mode.

• Pressing ; enters shell mode.

• Pressing ] enters pkg mode.

• Functions are compiled when first called with a given set of arguments and cached for later reuse.

• Redefinition of functions is possible with the Revise package.