title: TypeError: 'str' does not support the buffer interface in python
body: <p>I'm having this error in a python script:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>TypeError: 'str' does not support the buffer interface</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The line that is generating the error is </p>
  
  <pre><code>username = cred_file.readlines()[0].split(';')[0] 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'm a python beginner, any help is appreciated.</p>