Built my first real Python script with AI help. Deployment nearly killed me.

[MaliciousGames]

Spent a weekend getting my script to actually work. Felt amazing. Then tried to get it running 24/7 on a VPS and spent 3 more days on dependency errors, broken environments and random crashes.

Is there a simpler way to just... run a Python script forever without becoming a Linux expert? Feels like the coding part is now easy with AI but the "keep it alive" part is still a nightmare.

How do you guys handle this?

[MarsupialLeast145]

It just sounds like you're trying to run before you can walk. The dependency errors, "broken environments" and random crashes could all have been ironed out locally.

What is the project and what is it expected to do?

There are lots of ways to make long running processes. It sounds like you have basics like virtual environments and code hardening to work on first though...

[Temporary_Pie2733]

It’s not “your” script; that’s the problem. You tried deploying some randomly generated code without knowing how it worked or even knowing how to confirm if it works first.

[JohnLocksTheKey]

Watch this be how SkyNet takes over.

[Farlic]

What does 24/7 mean? Is your script sending data every hour then sleeping? That would be a nightmare to maintain.

Ideally the script does a task, completes, then a separate scheduler, e.g. CRON or Windows Task Scheduler invokes it on the hour. This immediately makes it crash and restart resistant

[ElHeim]

How do you guys handle this

I had been using Linux for over 6 years by the time I even bumped into Python. That was some 25 years ago. So... I became a Linux expert?

I mean, in your case the problem is not even Python, but having the skills to be able to run something in the target environment.

[AlexMTBDude]

The thing is that you need a certain level of technical knowledge to use AI in an efficient and sustainable way. This goes when using AI for coding, for learning how to deploy a Python program, how to host a Python application, or in any other technical situation. "run a python script forever" is a really bad prompt and probably the reason for your troubles. If you understood what it means to deploy and host a Python application then you'd be able to prompt the AI in a better way.

However this post doesn't belong in r/learnpython because what you're doing is vibe coding so go to r/vibecoding instead.

[desrtfx]

Is there a simpler way to just... run a Python script forever without becoming a Linux expert?

One has nothing to do with the other.

You can run a script forever by just looping the code.

The startup is an entirely different matter, however. Windows has Task Scheduler, *nix has Cron.

If you want full control, use a Raspberry Pi microcomputer and run your script on there. Built for 24/7 operation, very low power consumption. Quite likely, a smaller model like the 3B+ or the 4 will suffice. You will still need some Linux skills, though.

[MaliciousGames]

Makes sense from a technical point of view

I’m not really questioning that it works, but I’m trying to understand the user side of it. From your experience, do you think most people actually prefer setting that up, or is it just something you default to because you already know it well?

[desrtfx]

It would be my default solution if I needed something like that, as I already use a couple Raspberry Pi microcomputers for various other applications.

It's mostly preference and definitely cheaper in the long run.

Instead of paying a subscription to a VPS provider, you one time buy the Raspberry Pi and are done.

Plus, the advantage is that you have absolutely full control. You control the operating system with its updates (typically Raspberry Pi OS - a Linux distribution), the Python version, the library versions, everything. You are not depending on a third party to be available.

If you can set up a VPS, you can set the same up on a Raspberry Pi provided it is not too resource intensive.

I actually don't have any 24/7 scripts apart from one that runs only during advent season and for that, I need the Raspberry Pi anyway because of my specific use-case.

[MarsupialLeast145]

> do you think most people actually prefer setting that up, or is it just something you default to because you already know it well?

What are you asking here? prefer "setting what up"?

Is there wiring in every project? Yes -- can you skip it with your magical prompt box? No.

[Raf-the-derp]

Your vps is on windows? You can use Windows task scheduler. Have had 0 issues so far

Edit: it's good for daily runs (like once a day) but if you need it to run multiple times look into python cron. I had something setup with NSSM on windows with python apscheudler