code: def load_file(filename, out=sys.stdout):
      
      fp = open(filename, 'rb')
      try:
        source = fp.read()
        try:
            if PYTHON_VERSION < 2.6:
                co = compile(source, filename, 'exec')
            else:
                co = compile(source, filename, 'exec', dont_inherit=True)
        except SyntaxError:
            out.write('>>Syntax error in %s\n' % filename)
            raise
      finally:
        fp.close()
      return co
docs: load a Python source file and compile it to byte-code
      _load_file(filename: string): code_object
      filename:	name of file containing Python source code
                  (normally a .py)
      code_object: code_object compiled from this source code
      This function does NOT write any file!