How do I print a statement in a recursive Python function only once in the first iteration?

Question

I need to write a function that prints a timer as output (everything at the same time). However, I need to write "Ready?" at the beginning, so I only want it to be printed once.

Here's what I have so far:

def factorial(i):
    while i > 0:
        print(i)
        return (factorial(i-1))
    print('Go!')

factorial(5)

I want the function to print the output like so:

Ready?    
5
4
3
2
1
Go!

Answer 1

You can use an inner function :

def factorial(i):
    def recursive_output(i):
        if i > 0:
            print(i)
            recursive_output(i-1)

    print("Ready!")
    recursive_output(i)
    print("Go!")

Answer 2

You can add an argument to the function

FIRST_TIME = True
NOT_FIRST_TIME = False


def factorial(i, is_first_time):
    if is_first_time:
        print('Ready?')
    if i:
        print(i)
        return (factorial(i-1, NOT_FIRST_TIME))
    print('Go!')


factorial(5, FIRST_TIME)