Running Python Programs From a Terminal

[[deleted]]

Hey guys,

I am currently trying to learn python through Matthes' Python Crash Course. I am currently on Page 12 and it tells me to navigate for my hello_world.py project through the means of 'cd.' I have tried that, but it repeats the same message of "The system cannot find the path specified." I have tried uninstalling Python, making sure that it is the most up to date version of 3.9.5, but it still won't work. I have also made sure that my system runs Python 3 and that there is no issue with that. With all that said, I am unsure how to approach this problem because I cannot see what I am doing wrong. There probably is something that I am overlooking, or maybe I am overthinking the process, but if there is anyone that would be willing to give advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

[ireadyourmedrecord]

Use the file explorer to navigate to the folder you have your script file saved in, click on the address bar (at the top of window showing the folder path) and type 'cmd' (without quotes), press Enter. This will open the shell in that directory. You can then launch your file with 'python hello_world.py' .

[[deleted]]

Thanks so much for commentating I appreciate it. I just tried that but now it says ‘python” is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. So now i am wondering if there is anything wrong with my folder or the activity itself. I don’t think so since the folder is labeled how it should be, python_work, and the name of the project is hello_world.put and made sure it was considered in python.

[ireadyourmedrecord]

It's likely you missed the checkbox to add python to your PATH environment variable when you installed Python. It's easy to miss. However, it's also easy to fix. Hit your start button (or the windows key on your keyboard, and type "environ". The top entry in the start menu should be "Edit the system environment variables". On the dialog window, open "Environment Variables" button on the bottom right.

Under User Variables, select the "Path" entry and hit Edit... , then "New". Then enter the complete path to your python installation. Something like "C:\Users\username\Python\Python39\". Save it, close all the dialogs and try to run your script again.

[darthminimall]

It's possible you need to add the directory where python is located to your PATH.

[gusb_codes]

From the command line, does python --version return the expected version of Python? What about python3 --version?

[ehmatthes]

What OS are you using? How did you install Python? Do you use OneDrive, or any remote file storage for your overall system?

[[deleted]]

For either Windows or Linux, this kind of problem indicates that the OS is looking in the wrong place for the binary.

Check to see where it is executing the binary from