Running Python Functions like a Batch Program

When automating multi-step batch operations in Python, you can define a list of function references paired with argument tuples and iterate through them sequentially:

from functions import *

def main():
    functions = [
        (BackupDB, (backupname, dbtype)),
        (ZipBackup, (backupname,)),
        (RemoveOldBackups, ())
    ]

    for func, args in functions:
        result = func(*args)
        function_name = func.__name__

        if result == 0:
            print(f"{function_name} step has been completed successfully.")
        else:
            print(f"{function_name} step encountered errors. Execution halted.")
            return

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

By packaging arguments as tuples (arg1, arg2), func(*args) unpacks them cleanly. For functions requiring no arguments, simply pass an empty tuple ().