How to run python files without typing python and extension

run python file without typing python and extension.md

How to run python files without typing python and extension (in Linux)

Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CMmjNt_p48

Steps to follow to run your python code without typing python filename.py.

You can simply run by typing filename if you follow these simple steps.

Step 1 : Add shebang line as first line in your python code

#!/usr/bin/python3

This line tells about the location of interpreter.

If you are using another version of python, find that interpreter and type it in here. (I am having two version of python, python 2.7 and python 3.5 and to run it with python3 interpreter we have to type in /usr/bin/python3)

If you are using virtualenv, you can simply modify the shebang line to your interpreter.

Step 2 : Make your python file executable

In terminal, go to your directory where your python file is located and type the below command.

chmod +x filename.py

For example we have hello.py as our file, so we will move to the directory where it is located and will do

chmod +x hello.py

Now you can run your python file like ./hello.py

Step 3 : Move your file to bin to run it from anywhere

In terminal type the following command

cp filename.py ~/bin/new_name_you want_to_run_with

For example I want to run this file by calling welcome, I will do

cp hello.py ~/bin/welcome

Now you can run this welcome from anywhere on your system by just typing welcome in terminal.

Does the program update when you add it to bin? (eg. I add a new "print" line after I add the program to bin. Will it work?)

Does the program update when you add it to bin? (eg. I add a new "print" line after I add the program to bin. Will it work?)

No

A few improvements:

1. The following shebang line is better, because it will also work with virtual environments.

#!/usr/bin/env python

Hard-wiring the path of the Python interpreter is prone to breaking.

2. Instead of creating a copy of the script under a new name, I would recommend creating an alias, e.g. in ~/.bash_profile (OSX) or ~/.bashrc (Linux), like so

alias python_example='python_example.py'

This works like a charm and will always call the latest version of the script.

A few improvements:

1. The following shebang line is better, because it will also work with virtual environments.

#!/usr/bin/env python

Hard-wiring the path of the Python interpreter is prone to breaking.

Thanks for this

Can this work for Windows PowerShell?

In my-case step 3 isn't working

it's throwing error like this
cp reverse-shell.py ~/bin/rsg

cp: cannot create regular file '/home/local_host/bin/rsg': No such file or directory

cp: cannot create regular file '/home/local_host/bin/rsg': No such file or director

This is probably resolved with mkdir ~/bin first, although if you have to do that first it's probably not on the path, so the next part won't work either - in which case, you'll need to work out where your bin directory should be

On a side note local_host is a really strange username

does this also work with imported packages in an env?

Thank you it works.