How to run python script on terminal (ubuntu)?

Question

I'm new with python, I've been learning for a few weeks. However now I've just changed my OS and I'm now using ubuntu and I can't run any script on my terminal.

I made sure to have the #!/usr/bin/env python but when I go to the terminal and type, for example python test.py the terminal shows an error message like this

python: can't open file 'test.py': [Errno 2] No such file or directory

what do I do?
I must save the file in any specific folder to make it run on terminal?

Answer 1

This error:

python: can't open file 'test.py': [Errno 2] No such file or directory

Means that the file "test.py" doesn't exist. (Or, it does, but it isn't in the current working directory.)

I must save the file in any specific folder to make it run on terminal?

No, it can be where ever you want. However, if you just say, "test.py", you'll need to be in the directory containing test.py.

Your terminal (actually, the shell in the terminal) has a concept of "Current working directory", which is what directory (folder) it is currently "in".

Thus, if you type something like:

python test.py

test.py needs to be in the current working directory. In Linux, you can change the current working directory with cd. You might want a tutorial if you're new. (Note that the first hit on that search for me is this YouTube video. The author in the video is using a Mac, but both Mac and Linux use bash for a shell, so it should apply to you.)

Answer 2

Set the PATH as below:

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In the csh shell − type setenv PATH "$PATH:/usr/local/bin/python" and press Enter.

In the bash shell (Linux) − type export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/python" and press Enter.

In the sh or ksh shell − type PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/python" and press Enter.

Note − /usr/local/bin/python is the path of the Python directory

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now run as below:

-bash-4.2$ python test.py

Hello, Python!