How often does python flush to a file?

For file operations, Python uses the operating system’s default buffering unless you configure it do otherwise. You can specify a buffer size, unbuffered, or line buffered.

For example, the open function takes a buffer size argument.

http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html#open

“The optional buffering argument specifies the file’s desired buffer size:”

• 0 means unbuffered,
• 1 means line buffered,
• any other positive value means use a buffer of (approximately) that size.
• A negative buffering means to use the system default, which is usually line buffered for tty devices and fully buffered for other files.
• If omitted, the system default is used.

code:

bufsize = 0
f = open('file.txt', 'w', buffering=bufsize)