How to parse a Python module from file

Question

I saw this SO question and tried using it by creating a .py file with 2 methods and trying to read it.
The file:

def f1(a):
    print "hello", a
    return 1

def f2(a,b):
    print "hello",a,", hello",b

Trying to read it:

>>> r = open('ToParse.py','r')
>>> t = ast.parse(r.read)

Exception thrown:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<interactive input>", line 1, in <module>
  File "C:\Python26\lib\ast.py", line 37, in parse
    return compile(expr, filename, mode, PyCF_ONLY_AST)
TypeError: expected a readable buffer object

What am I doing wrong?
My goal is to get a python module and be able to parse it using Python - expose its classes and methods.

Answer 1

You need to call read. So your line

t = ast.parse(r.read)

Should be

t = ast.parse(r.read())

See here for info on files and here for info on ast.parse