CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythoninterpreterpermission-denied
Vityou
Vityou

Reputation: 262

python how to run python without specifying the interpreter

when you run a python script, you have to do 

python3 filename

Is there something you can write in the python file to make it so that you dont have to say python3 before running it. I tried the #!/ line, but when I do:

./filename

it says permission denied. Is specifying the interpreter name when running the program mandatory?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 2601

Answers (2)

Michael Recachinas
Michael Recachinas

Reputation: 2749

At the top of your python file, you'll want to add the path to the Python3 binary. This is commonly referred to as a "hashbang" or "shebang". It tells your shell how to interpret or run your file (without it, if you tried ./<python-file>, it would try to interpret it as bash.

#!/path/to/python3

On my computer, it's

#!/usr/bin/python3

To determine the path where your python3 binary (or link) is located, run

$ which python3

Alternatively, it's better to use env, as it will ensure the interpreter used is the first one on your environment's $PATH.

#!/usr/bin/env python3

Note, you'll need to run

$ chmod a+x <python-file>

to change the mode to make it executable. The a tells it to make it executable for all (user, group, and others), so if you do not want this, you can leave it out (as in, chmod +x <python-file>).

To not have to run ./ before the executable, you'll want to set your PATH as

export PATH=$PATH:.

in your .bashrc or similar *rc file for your shell. (export makes the variable available to sub-processes.) Then you'll want to run

$ source ~/.bashrc

Upvotes: 6

napkinsterror
napkinsterror

Reputation: 1965

I'm guessing you are on a linux or unix bases operating system. Yes there is something you can do. Hopefully you are using the import os and import sys library for any interaction with terminal. Next you have to do a chmod command on the file to make it executable

The command would be

chmod +x [python_file.py]

or usually (if not root)

sudo chmod +x [python_file.py]

Upvotes: 0

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