title: python: unpacking a string to a list
body: <p>The answer to <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/335695/lists-in-configparser">a question on multiple-value elements in a config file</a> (which exactly fits my needs) suggests to "unpack the string from the config". I read the doc for <a href="http://docs.python.org/tutorial/controlflow.html#unpacking-argument-lists" rel="nofollow noreferrer">unpacking arguments lists</a> suggested in several places but I fail to understand how this relates to my problem.</p>
  
  <p>I am sure this must be obvious: having a string <code>str = "123,456"</code>, how can I transform it into the list <code>[123,456]</code> (the number of elements separated by a comma in the string may vary)</p>
  
  <p>Thank you.</p>