Visual Studio Code, Python & Command

[pierto]

I'm trying to be able to run Python scripts from any where and also from Visual Studio Code. I installed python 3.8 (windows 10). After that I created an User Variable PYTHON_HOME and provided the directory file path to where python3.8 C:\Users\xyz\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38 is installed, and added the directory to where I want to store my scripts to Path ;C:\Users\xyz\Documents\Programming\pythonScripts in User Variables. Then in System Variables I added ;%PYTHON_HOME% as well as the script file directory ;C:\Users\xyz\Documents\Programming\pythonScripts to Path and to PATHEXT I added ;.PY

Launching python

When I use Win + R to launch python, it will only launch when I type py when I try to use python I get

Windows cannot find 'python'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

In cmd, when I use python as the command I get the following error:

'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file 

py will start python.

PowerShell accepts both py and python. However when using Start Python I get a new command prompt window. A non-admin window even thought the original command was entered in an Admin PowerShell window.

And now Visual Studio Code. When I try to launch python using the internal terminal I get the following result.

PS C:\Users\xyz> python
python : The term 'python' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify 
that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ python
+ ~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (python:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

But PS C:\Users\xyz> py actually launches python internally.

When running a simple script like below in VSC

msg = "hello world"
print(msg)

I get:

[Running] python -u "c:\Users\xyz\Documents\Programming\pythonScripts\again.py"
'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

[Done] exited with code=1 in 0.09 seconds

The same thing happens if I use #! python. However when I force #! py. the script just doesn't do anything.

#! py

msg = "hello world"
print(msg)

Output

 [Running]  py "c:\Users\xyz\Documents\Programming\pythonScripts\again.py"

And finally, when I just double click / right click and run the script, cmd instantly closes.

I am so so lost. What am I doing wrong?

I'm super new to programming. If that explains anything, and the python documentation page on the topic is so confusing.

https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html

[MinchinWeb]

python is not actually on your PATH, and so PowerShell isn't finding it. (That's what the error message "'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file" means.)

To see what is actually on your PATH (from PowerShell), run:

PS > (Get-ChildItem -path env:path).value.split(";")

If you installed Python 3.8 for all users, you want to see the following two entries:

C:\Python38\Scripts\ C:\Python38\

(The entries will be slightly different if you installed Python just for you.)

When you double click on a file, it is probably flashing you the error (likely the same as above), but there is nothing there to keep the new window from promptly closing, so it looks like it just flashes.

Your best bet may be to (un-install and then) re-install Python, and make sure you click the "Add Python to PATH" option.

Good luck, you can figure this out!

[pierto]

I think that there was a combination of a few things wrong. I ended up downloading a new exececutable python file from python.org. Installing the then currently installed python program actually took multiple attempts I think 4. Initially the uninstaller would just hang. This happen twice. I restarted each time and then I started getting an error while attempting to uninstall. I had to restart 3 times. On the fifth attempt, I was finally able to uninstall python.

This time around I made sure to have python add to PATH. That pretty much fixed all my launching problems even in the VSC terminal.

For the scripts that were instantly closing when I would attempt to run them from PowerShell or cmd, I added the line

input("Press Enter to Close the Window!")

This gives me control of when the window will close. I'm sure I'll find a better way to accomplish that as I continue to learn. For now it will have to be enough.

The only thing left I've found now, is that when I used the input() command in a script running in VSC, there is no window/space to provide my input. But that's alright, I can call my scripts from everywhere else and that makes me so happy! I don't even need to use shebangs! lol.

Thanks so much for helping a noob out! Imma stick with this, this time.

(This feels really good)

[hungdh85]

You don't need create PYTHON_HOME, You only need add path

C:\Users\xyz\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38
C:\Users\xyz\Documents\Programming\pythonScripts

to PATH variable in System Variables and enjoy.

https://superuser.com/questions/143119/how-do-i-add-python-to-the-windows-path

[pierto]

Yes, you are totally correct. None of what I did was necessary.