How to Launch a Script from Any Directory with Python

Question

Currently, in order to launch all my python scripts from the terminal I have to go to the relative folder and use

$ python myscript.py

to launch the script. How can I make it so that I can just type

$ myscript

to launch that script, no matter what folder I'm currently in?

• martineau: Depends on your operating system. Please tag your question accordingly.
• Flo: If you're a Linux user check the last part there: openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english3e/…

Answer 1

Assuming you are using linux/macos

1. add this shebang at the beginning of the script #!/usr/bin/env python3
2. make sure you can execute the file by calling chmod +x myscript.py

Now if you are in the same directory of the script you can run it simply with the command ./myscript.py.

To be able to run the script, no matter what directory you are in:

3. move the script into a directory listed inside the $PATH environment variable, like /usr/local/bin, or make a directory ad-hoc for your scripts and add that dir to the PATH variable

You can now call your script by just typing its name in the terminal.

• linamamm: With echo $PATH you can see what dir's are in the path and move the script there

Answer 2

You can use alias in your bash_profile for mac or bashrc in linux.

.bash_profile

alias myscript="python /<dir_where_file_is_located>/myscript.py"

once alias is added then reload it

source ~/.bash_profile

Now you can by just type myscript and enter.

$ myscript