How to give executable permission to all Python scripts in Linux?

Question

Suppose I have a python script called a.py like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# Author    : Bhishan Poudel
# Date      : Jul 13, 2016


# Imports


# Script
print("hello")

I can run this scripts in two ways:
Using python interpreter:

python3 a.py

Changing permission

chmod a+x a.py; ./a.py

QUESTION
How can I run any new or old python scripts without using chmod a+x script_name all the times.

I have root access and user access both to my computer.

Basically i want executable permission to all the .py files, how can we do so?

I tried different shebangs such as:

#!/usr/bin/python3
#!/usr/bin/env python3
#!/usr/local/bin/python3
#!/usr/local/bin/env python3

The python interpreter is also in the $PATH. The output of echo $PATH is following:

/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.5/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/opt/X11/bin:/usr/texbin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.5/bin:/opt/local/bin:/Users/poudel/phosim:/Users/poudel/Applications:/usr/local/octave/3.8.0/bin:/Users/poudel/Applications/Geany.app/Contents/MacOS/:/opt/local/bin:/Users/poudel/phosim:/Users/poudel/Applications:/usr/local/octave/3.8.0/bin:/Applications/Geany.app/Contents/MacOS/:/opt/local/bin:/Users/poudel/phosim:/Users/poudel/Applications:/usr/local/octave/3.8.0/bin:/Applications/Geany.app/Contents/MacOS/

Also, ls /usr/bin/py* has:

/usr/bin/pydoc*            /usr/bin/python2.5@        /usr/bin/pythonw*
/usr/bin/pydoc2.5@         /usr/bin/python2.5-config@ /usr/bin/pythonw2.5@
/usr/bin/pydoc2.6@         /usr/bin/python2.6@        /usr/bin/pythonw2.6@
/usr/bin/pydoc2.7@         /usr/bin/python2.6-config@ /usr/bin/pythonw2.7@
/usr/bin/python*           /usr/bin/python2.7@
/usr/bin/python-config*    /usr/bin/python2.7-config@

Related links:
http://effbot.org/pyfaq/how-do-i-make-a-python-script-executable-on-unix.htm
Permission Denied when executing python file in linux
bash permission denied for python
Permission denied when launch python script via bash

You probably dont want all .py files to be executable; modules that aren't intended to be run as scripts should not have their executable bit set (or at least, there is no reason to set it). — chepner
– chepner, Commented Jul 13, 2016 at 15:40
@chepner, I appreciate your idea, but i wanted to run files without using chmod a+x script_name.py all the time for all the files. For future reference, I will consider your idea too. Thanks. — BhishanPoudel
– BhishanPoudel, Commented Jul 13, 2016 at 15:53

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:46:37Z

6

The hard way

Run below with root privilege:

find /your/path/ -type f -name "*.py" -exec chmod u+x {} \;

Note:

chmod need not be run as root if you're the owner of .py file.

The smart way

Write a script to take care of this.

#!/bin/bash
if [ -f "$1" ]
then
geany "$1" # You could also use xdg-open if you set geany to open .py files
else
cp /path/to/python/startup/template "$1" # You may omit this if you don't have a default template
chmod u+x "$1"
geany "$1"
fi

Save the script as, say, pycreator in say /usr/bin/ , then do

chown root:root /usr/bin/pycreator
chmod +x-w /usr/bin/pycreator

To create a new script using pycreator, do

pycreator calculator.py

Also [ this ] answer pointed to by @choroba in his comment provides valuable insight in this regard.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:46

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 13, 2016 at 15:25

sjsam

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2 Comments

choroba Over a year ago

Also, configure your editor to add the execution flag for future .py files created.

Мона_Сах Over a year ago

@choroba : I like this answer, but is it possible to configure an editor say vi to automatically add +x while saving a file with particular extension say .sh?

BhishanPoudel · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-13 15:54:51Z

3

Using the idea of @sjsam, I did following:

Suppose I have a file hello.py in any location.

cd to that location
find $PWD -type f -name "*.py" -exec chmod u+x {} \;
./hello.py

# Now, i can create any number of .py files in that folder and run ./filename

# Note: if we are running as user permission, and also have sudo access,
   we can also do:
   sudo -H find $PWD -type f -name "*.py" -exec chmod u+x {} \;

We should not use sudo unless absolutely necessary.

Thanks to sjsam.

edited Jul 13, 2016 at 15:54

answered Jul 13, 2016 at 15:39

BhishanPoudel

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Comments

Wasit Shafi · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-10 06:42:01Z

0

Try this chmod +x *.py it works on my PC(OS:Ubuntu 20.4), Also i am using #! /usr/bin/env python3 shebang

answered Oct 10, 2020 at 6:42

Wasit Shafi

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