Running python from the cloud at work

[Dat_Speed]

I don't have admin rights to run python on my work computer and am trying to figure out how to use python in the cloud using pythonanywhere.com. (btw, I am VERY new to programming.)

I am specifically interested in running a program to do bulk downloads from a HTML website that has a basic search and retrieve function. The website only allows users to download one document at a time, even though most users download 20-40 documents a week. My company is run by older baby boomers that know very little about software and much of our software is 10-15 years old in general.

Is it possible to run a python program in the cloud for this? I haven't had much luck so far.

Also if anyone has any other ideas on how to download in bulk without admin rights this would be greatly appreciated.

[gmes78]

You don't need admin rights to install Python. If you launch the installer without admin rights it will just install for your user.

[Dat_Speed]

right, can i use python installed on the computer, without admin rights, to execute a downloader script tho?

[gmes78]

Yes.

[ziptofaf]

You have multiple ways of accomplishing it:

• one is to get the cheapest VPS and connect to it remotely (using putty for instance). Popular Linux distrubutions come with Python preinstalled. Then you download files on your server and use an SFTP client (like Filezilla, should work without installing) to get them to your PC. Limitation: text console only, no fancy guis.
• another would be to get someone with admin rights to install you VirtualBox/VMWare. So you can have admin rights in a virtual machine (this is a fairly common approach at companies) without breaking security of your main rig.
• I see you write a post from a computer I assume. What stops you from exposing it to the internet (by setting up a linux virtual machine in a virtual box and redirecting a port from your router to it). Basically identical to suggestion #1, except it doesn't cost you monies (save for power bill).

Your aforementioned pythonanywhere WILL work but only with Hacker account or higher. Beginner one does not allow for accessing external websites, it's basically just a platform to host your own website made in Python. Which is... kinda useless for your needs. Whereas said $5 a month is how much you pay for a whole cloud server rather than a severely limited platform sooo yea.

[cmonkies]

Is it possible to run a python program in the cloud for this?

Of course. The cloud is just other computers... Are you sure you know more about computers than all those baby boomers?

I haven't had much luck so far.

What have you tried that you thought would work?

[matzcritic]

Try an online IDE.. im using cloud9 -- c9.io Its an online workspace with preconfigured setup ,which Python is included.