python - Why doesn't my function execute when I use exec on a string? (the string is the name of the function) -

i have following function in python:

def foo():     print 1      return 1

in shell, run

foo()

and

1 1

as should. when run following in shell

exec('foo')

i nothing? why?

this diluted version of larger problem.

you referencing function name. add parenthesis call function:

exec('foo()')

this print 1; return value discarded nothing captures it. add print statement show return value:

exec('print foo()')

exec() not mean 'execute function named', means 'execute python code given'.

Sharma