Index Counters

The i mark attaches a running counter to the message, so sequences are easy to follow without writing print(i, ...).

import neoprint as np

np.show(':i2', 'first')
np.show(':i2', 'second')
np.show(':i2', 'third')

Every counter is rendered as [n] before the body, in a color derived from its frame, so values stand out from the text.

The four counters

Bare :i is :i1.

Line-level (:i1)

Best for loops and repeated single lines:

for _ in range(3):
    np.show(':i1', 'line')

main.py:2   | [1] line
main.py:2   | [2] line
main.py:2   | [3] line

Two different lines each start at [1], because they own separate counters.

Scoped (:i2)

Best when several lines form one logical stream. The scope is the enclosing function (or class body, or module):

def stage():
    np.show(':i2', 'step one')
    np.show(':i2', 'step two')

stage()
stage()

main.py:3   | [1] step one
main.py:4   | [2] step two
main.py:3   | [3] step one
main.py:4   | [4] step two

Global (:i3)

A single counter shared by the whole program:

np.show(':i3', 'G1')
np.show(':i3', 'G2')

main.py:1   | [1] G1
main.py:2   | [2] G2

Resetting

np.show(':i0')      # reset every counter
np.show(':i', 'back to [1]')

Custom scopes

np.scope() opens a named region. Inside it, :i2 counters are keyed by the scope name instead of the function, which lets unrelated blocks share — or deliberately not share — a counter:

with np.scope(name='download'):
    np.show(':i2', 'file A')
    np.show(':i2', 'file B')

with np.scope():                 # anonymous scope
    np.show(':i2', 'anonymous 1')

Scopes also give :t3 its own timeline; see Timing.

Colors

Counter colors are generated per source frame from a bright hex palette and rendered with terminal true color. You do not choose them; they only serve to tell frames apart. :i3 is always red.

Shorthand

np.index(x) is np.show(x, ':i2').