Get IP Address from hostname bash function

ip.sh

# Get IP address from hostname using Python
# Args:
#   $1 - hostname
# Returns:
#   The ip address  
ipfromhostname() {
    local hostname="$1"
    if [ -z "$hostname" ]; then
        >&2 echo 'Must supply hostname as an argument'
        return 1
    fi
    local python_exists=$(type python 2>/dev/null)
    if [ -z "$python_exists" ]; then
        >&2 echo Requires python
        return 1
    fi
    python -c "import socket; print(socket.gethostbyname(\"$hostname\"))" 2>/dev/null
    local ret="$?"
    if [[ "$ret" != 0 ]]; then
        >&2 echo Hostname not found
        return 1
    fi
}