python command line syntax error

Question

I tried running a simple python file from the command line. I created a python file called script0.py with the following content

 print 2**2

I get a syntax error.

>>> python script0.py
 File "<stdin>", line 1
 python script0.py
 ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>

What is that? My first try with python has been really bad and the book of Mark Lutz is not helping. I use Python 2.7.

Thanks

• user2357112: You're trying to issue a shell command to Python. python script0.py doesn't go in an interactive Python session; it goes in the shell, a.k.a. command prompt.
• Prune: I have no idea; that works just fine for me. Do you have any leading spaces or other characters in the file?
• Charlie G: @user2357112 is correct, you should post it as the answer
• nia: no, no leading spaces. How do I submit a simple python script that runs in the command prompt under windows?
• nia: I am using python 27 with Windows 10. When I simply type python I get errors too. Something is not right.

Answer 1

You are running that code from inside the python interpreter. If your terminal is showing a leading >>> it means your inside python already, in there you can either type print 2**2 directly, or exit and call python script0.py

My guess is that you inadvertently entered the python interpreter and thought you were still at the command prompt. Type exit() and try again.

demo

• nia: Nope it is Python 2.7.
• nia: Thanks. exit() exits the command prompt. I use Windows 10. Probably Python 2.7.12 doesn't work with windows 10.
• user2357112: @nia: Protip: don't blame your tools until you understand them. Python works fine on Windows 10. You're just doing it wrong.
• Juan Cortés: You need to do something like this C:\Python27\python.exe C:\Users\Username\Desktop\my_python_script.py changing the routes to those on your system
• nia: I was opening python interpreter in the command prompt. I just had to open a command prompt. Sorry for the stupid question and thanks a lot.