How to implement bash's vertical bar operator in python console?

Question

I wish i could write like

>>> print many_lines_message | tail -1

in python console, how to do that?

Answer 1

print many_lines_message.splitlines()[-1]

If you want to simulate head, tail and/or grep commands, it is easy with slices and/or list comprehensions.

If you want to do something different, give us more examples.

Answer 2

If you really want to pass the output of an arbitrary Python expression to an external command, you will need to start a process and use a pipe. In bash a pipe is spelt |, in Python the subprocess module can help you with that. But if you just need the example you gave, the answers by eumiro and Jon Clements are what you need.