replicator1.py

#! /usr/bin/python

import os
import subprocess
import time

iteration = 1

def main():

        if iteration >= 20:
            quit()
        
        filename = "replicator%d.py" % iteration
        nextFilename = "replicator%d.py" % (iteration + 1)
        with open(filename, 'r') as fh:
            with open(nextFilename, 'w') as ofh:
                for line in fh:
                    if 'iteration' in line:
                        oldString = "iteration = %d" % iteration
                        newString = "iteration = %d" % (iteration + 1)
                        newline = line.replace(oldString, newString)
                        if newline != line:
                            line = newline
    
                    print line.strip('\n')
                    ofh.write(line)
    
        cmd = "python %s" % nextFilename
        time.sleep(.5)
        subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True)
        print "Done, back in interation %d" % iteration
        time.sleep(.5)
        
        # Kill the offspring!!!
        if iteration == 1:
            for i in range(2, 21):
                rmname = "replicator%d.py" % i
                os.remove(rmname)
                
            # Now do it all over again!
            subprocess.call('python replicator1.py', shell=True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()