Running Python scripts involves executing the code stored in a Python file. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to run Python scripts:
1. Create a Python Script:
Open your preferred text editor and write your Python code. Save the file with a .py extension, which is the standard extension for Python scripts.
Example: myscript.py
# myscript.py
print("Hello, World!")
2. Open a Terminal or Command Prompt:
On Linux/Mac: Open a terminal.
On Windows: Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
3. Navigate to the Script’s Directory:
Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where your Python script is located.
cd path/to/your/script/directory
4. Run the Script:
Use the python command followed by the script’s filename to execute the script.
On Linux/Mac:
python myscript.py
On Windows (Command Prompt):
python myscript.py
On Windows (PowerShell):
python .\myscript.py
5. Check the Output:
If the script runs successfully, you should see the output on the terminal or command prompt.
Output:
Hello, World!
Tips:
Virtual Environment (Optional): It’s good practice to use a virtual environment to isolate your project’s dependencies. You can create a virtual environment using the
venvmodule:
python -m venv myenv
Activate the virtual environment:
On Linux/Mac:
source myenv/bin/activate
On Windows (Command Prompt):
.\myenv\Scripts\activate
On Windows (PowerShell):
.\myenv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
Using Python 3: If you have both Python 2 and Python 3 installed, you might need to use python3 instead of python:
python3 myscript.py
Integrated Development Environment (IDE): You can also run Python scripts from an IDE like PyCharm, VSCode, or IDLE, where you can execute the script with a click of a button.
By following these steps, you can successfully run Python scripts on various operating systems. Adjust the commands based on your specific environment and Python version.