I get syntax error when I execute this python scripts but not when I invoke the interpreter

Question

in a file called test.py I have the following code

#!/usr/bin/python3

with open('test.txt','w') as File:
    print(1,file=File)

When I do

$ python3 test.py

It runs fine. But when I do

$ chmod +x test.py
$ ./test.py

I get a SyntaxError:

  File "./test.py", line 4
    print(1,file=File)
                ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Any one has any idea why? Thank you

I'm running Python 3.3.1 in Ubuntu 13.04

The syntax error is thrown by Python 2.x; /usr/bin/python3 is not what you think it is. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Apr 30, 2013 at 16:35
which python is /usr/bin/python3 which is python 3.3.1 (if I run /usr/bin/python3 I get the Python 3.3.1 interpreter. More so, If I do /usr/bin/python3 test.py it all works nice) — Patricio Clark
– Patricio Clark, Commented Apr 30, 2013 at 16:40
@PatricioClark Very strange. What happens if you change the script to do: import sys; print(sys.executable)? Edit: might also be worth adding print(sys.version). — Aya
– Aya, Commented Apr 30, 2013 at 16:45
@Aya Thank you! I was using a zsh suffix alias that run python on *.py files. After removing that suffix alias everything is working perfectly. Big thank you to all of you. — Patricio Clark
– Patricio Clark, Commented Apr 30, 2013 at 17:12

Brendan Long · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-30 16:38:44Z

2

It looks like you're using a Python 2 interpreter for some reason. Maybe trying using env to search for the correct python3:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

with open('test.txt','w') as File:
    print(1,file=File)

env should find the same python3 that your shell does.

It's worth mentioning that this is a good idea even if you're not having problems, since it makes your scripts more portable by letting them run on any platform where python3 is available, no matter where it is.

answered Apr 30, 2013 at 16:38

Brendan Long

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