How can I tell if a python variable is a string or a list?
Well, there's nothing unpythonic about checking type. Having said that, if you're willing to put a small burden on the caller:
def func( *files ): for f in files: doSomethingWithFile( f )func( *['file1','file2','file3'] ) #Is treated like func('file1','file2','file3')func( 'file1' )I'd argue this is more pythonic in that "explicit is better than implicit". Here there is at least a recognition on the part of the caller when the input is already in list form.
Personally, I don't really like this sort of behavior -- it interferes with duck typing. One could argue that it doesn't obey the "Explicit is better than implicit" mantra. Why not use the varargs syntax:
def func( *files ): for f in files: doSomethingWithFile( f )func( 'file1', 'file2', 'file3' )func( 'file1' )func( *listOfFiles )