How to Run Your Python Scripts and Code
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Running a Python script is a fundamental task for any Python developer. You can execute a Python .py
file through various methods depending on your environment and platform. On Windows, Linux, and macOS, use the command line by typing python script_name.py
to run your script. You can also use the python
command with the -m
option to execute modules. This tutorial covers these methods and more, ensuring you can run Python scripts efficiently.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand that:
- Running a Python
.py
script involves using thepython
command followed by the script’s filename in the terminal or command prompt. - Running Python from the command prompt requires you to open the command prompt, navigate to the script’s directory, and execute it using
python script_name.py
. - Running a
.py
file in Windows can be done directly from the command prompt or by double-clicking the file if Python is associated with.py
files. - Running a Python script without Python installed is possible by using online interpreters or converting scripts to executables, but it’s more flexible to install Python and run scripts natively.
To get the most out of this tutorial, you should know the basics of working with your operating system’s terminal and file manager. It’d also be beneficial for you to be familiar with a Python-friendly IDE or code editor and with the standard Python REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop).
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Interactive Quiz
How to Run Your Python ScriptsOne of the most important skills you need to build as a Python developer is to be able to run Python scripts and code. Test your understanding on how good you are with running your code.
What Scripts and Modules Are
In computing, the term script refers to a text file containing a logical sequence of orders that you can run to accomplish a specific task. These orders are typically expressed in a scripting language, which is a programming language that allows you to manipulate, customize, and automate tasks.
Scripting languages are usually interpreted at runtime rather than compiled. So, scripts are typically run by some kind of interpreter, which is responsible for executing each order in a sequence.
Python is an interpreted language. Because of that, Python programs are commonly called scripts. However, this terminology isn’t completely accurate because Python programs can be way more complex than a simple, sequential script.
In general, a file containing executable Python code is called a script—or an entry-point script in more complex applications—which is a common term for a top-level program. On the other hand, a file containing Python code that’s designed to be imported and used from another Python file is called a module.
So, the main difference between a module and a script is that modules store importable code while scripts hold executable code.
Note: Importable code is code that defines something but doesn’t perform a specific action. Some examples include function and class definitions. In contrast, executable code is code that performs specific actions. Some examples include function calls, loops, and conditionals.
In the following sections, you’ll learn how to run Python scripts, programs, and code in general. To kick things off, you’ll start by learning how to run them from your operating system’s command line or terminal.
How to Run Python Scripts From the Command Line
In Python programming, you’ll write programs in plain text files. By convention, files containing Python code use the .py
extension, and there’s no distinction between scripts or executable programs and modules. All of them will use the same extension.
Note: On Windows systems, the extension can also be .pyw
for those applications that should use the pythonw.exe
launcher.
To create a Python script, you can use any Python-friendly code editor or IDE (integrated development environment). To keep moving forward in this tutorial, you’ll need to create a basic script, so fire up your favorite text editor and create a new hello.py
file containing the following code:
hello.py
print("Hello, World!")
This is the classic "Hello, World!"
program in Python. The executable code consists of a call to the built-in print()
function that displays the "Hello, World!"
message on your screen.
With this small program ready, you’re ready to learn different ways to run it. You’ll start by running the program from your command line, which is arguably the most commonly used approach to running scripts.
Using the python
Command
To run Python scripts with the python
command, you need to open a command-line window and type in the word python
followed by the path to your target script:
Read the full article at https://realpython.com/run-python-scripts/ »
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December 08, 2024 at 07:30PM
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