pickle example

import pickle

class Pickles(object):

    def __init__(self):
        self.list = self._read_list_from_file()

    def _read_list_from_file(self):
        try:
            with open('list.pkl', 'r+') as f:
                self.list = pickle.loads(f.read())
        except (IOError, EOFError):
            return []
        return self.list

    def display_list(self):
        if self.list:
            print self.list
        else:
            print self._read_list_from_file()

    def _update_list(self):
        with open('list.pkl', 'w+') as f:
            f.write(pickle.dumps(self.list))

    def append_list(self, *args):
        if not self.list:
            self.list = []
        self.list.extend(args)
        self._update_list()


if __name__ == '__main__':
    test = Pickles()
    test.append_list(1,2,3,4)
    test.display_list()
    test.append_list(5)
    test.display_list()