How to run a Python script in Windows and linux?

Question: How can one execute a Python script on both Windows and Linux operating systems?

Answer: Running a Python script on Windows and Linux involves utilizing their respective command-line interfaces. Below are the step-by-step instructions for each operating system:

For Windows:

1. Open the Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type cmd and press Enter.

2. Navigate to the Script's Directory:

   • Use the cd command to change to the directory containing your Python script.

     bash
     cd path\to\your\script
     

3. Run the Python Script:

   • Execute the script using the python command.

     bash
     python script_name.py
     

   Note: Ensure that Python is installed, and the PATH variable includes the Python executable.

For Linux:

1. Open the Terminal:

   • Press Ctrl + Alt + T or use the system menu to open the terminal.

2. Navigate to the Script's Directory:

   • Use the cd command to change to the directory containing your Python script.

     bash
     cd /path/to/your/script
     

3. Run the Python Script:

   • Execute the script using the python command.

     bash
     python3 script_name.py
     

   Note: On Linux, Python 3 is often used. Ensure that Python 3 is installed, and the 'python3' command is available.

Example Explanation:

Let's consider a simple Python script named hello.py that prints a greeting:

python
# hello.py
print("Hello, World!")

• Save this script in a directory, for example, C:\Scripts on Windows or /home/user/scripts on Linux.
• Open the command prompt or terminal, navigate to the script's directory using cd, and run the script with the appropriate Python command.

On Windows:

bash
cd C:\Scripts
python hello.py

On Linux:

bash
cd /home/user/scripts
python3 hello.py

These commands execute the script, and you should see the output "Hello, World!" printed to the console. Adjust the paths and commands based on your specific directory structure and Python installation.