The historical blur between scripting languages and general-purpose programming languages has caused Python to be considered as a scripting language by a large audience. Python is a general-purpose programming language that also works nicely as a scripting language.

1. Python Script
2. How can a Python program be executed?
3. Need for scripting 
4. Advantages of Scripting
5. Python and Java
6. How to write Python Scripts?
7. Need for Documenting the Code
8. How to reload modules
9. Converting the Python Script into .exe file

Let us understand Python Script

A Python script, the file containing the commands, structured to be executed like a program. These files are designed to contain various functions and import various modules. Python interactive shell or the respective command line is used to execute the script, to perform a specific task. A script is structured by defining the set of function definitions and then stating the main program used to call the functions.

A program consists of numerous tasks; these tasks can be executed with the help of scripts. Unlike libraries, scripts can be used without importing and are less code-intensive.

How can a Python program be executed?

The different ways in which a python program can be executed successfully are:

1. By the Python Terminal. Interactive mode for programming is used to develop brand new solutions from scratch, and to execute them in state-of-the-art ways.
2. By implementing Scripting.

Need for scripting 

The development of complicated programs using python terminal is very difficult, complex, and time-consuming. Scripting is used for the development of such complex and large programs. 

Windows Users:

The steps for the methods are first, writing the python program in notepad second, saving the program saved using a .py extension, and finally, executing the respective program by typing the name of the program in the command prompt “python filename.py”.

Note: Set the path variable correctly before executing the script.

Mac Users:

Double-click the script in the Finder, to run a script application. The events and results can’t be viewed if running a script app outside of Script Editor.

Advantages of Scripting

Scripting, developing a set of commands designed to work together, to execute a needed task or set of tasks.

The demand for scripting languages increases as there is a need for easy solutions for developing complex programs in the market. As the popularity and the traction for these scripting languages increase, developers try to push the limits to get faster and better results. They are easy to develop and can be executed in a short time. 

Note: Python is still considered to have an upper hand, and scripts can mostly be used for integrations-related tasks. Developers should know the boundaries and should respect them.

Python and Java

Python Scripts are nothing but the codes that are written in the python programs.  

Like Java, Python has its PVM (Python Virtual Machine). The PVM can convert the script into byte code. The .pyc files in python, also known as compiled python files, use a similar architecture for execution. In python, the process is done to modules for better performance during the execution. 

Python states:

Python language is interpreted in nature. Due to the presence of the bytecode compiler, the distinction between interpreted or compiled are almost blurry. There is no need to create an executable file to run, as the source files can be run directly.

The architecture of the program is different from a solid script. It is complex and diverse.

How to write Python Scripts?

The script in python and the shell script are almost the same things. They both are lines of python code written in a plain text file; these python codes are designed as solutions that are executed systematically. 

A text editor with syntax highlighting is essential. Developers can easily create and edit a Python script using a good text editor.

The most versatile text editor currently available in the market is VSCode, provided by Microsoft. 

Windows Users:

Can install and run it directly or through Anaconda

Mac Users:

Can install and run it through Anaconda.

Need for Documenting the Code

Documenting the written python code is very important. It helps in easy usage of the code for others and also for yourself. With proper documentation, the structuring and usage of the respective code can be easily remembered for future purposes. For documenting a source code, we make use of comments. Comments are denoted by #. Python ignores the text written as comments.

Note:

• Plain text files can be used to create and store Python commands 
• Use python <scriptname> to run the respective file
• Extension .py is generally used for python scripts.
• Always opt for a syntax-highlighting text editor to edit your Python scripts.
• Make use of comments, as the comments improve the readability of your code and can be used to understand the structuring and usage of the script for future purposes

How to reload modules

A Python module is a set of parameters and functions together in a single .py file. They are files implemented in need of the pre-defined functions.

While importing a module, Python secures the commands for importing the respective module. If the command for importing the same module is made by another statement, Python automatically neglects the command. The folder sys.modules contain the list of modules already loaded. Loading the same module can be time-consuming. 

For force reloading of a module, while debugging a script using an exe file or running the program from an IPython shell, we have to use the reload command. Otherwise, the changes that were made in the script will not be refreshed after re-executing the script.

Converting the Python Script into .exe file

With the help of the .exe file, the program developed can be run on a system without the need for an IDE shell. 

Step 1:

Use the command: pip install pyinstaller, type it in command prompt 

Step 2:

Open directory where the respective .py file is located. 

Step 3:

Open the Power shell window by clicking the Right button and simultaneously pressing the shift button.

Step 4:

Use the command: pyinstaller –onefile -w ‘filename.py’, type it in the command prompt 

Step 5:

After executing the command, go to the new-made directory, open the dist folder for the exe.file

This brings us to the end of the blog on How to Run a Python Script. We hope that you have understood the concept comprehensively. To learn more such concepts, join Great Learning’s PGP Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Course and upskill today. The PGP- AIML Course offered Online Mentorship and Career Support to help you power ahead your career.

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