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Python

Posted by Robert Peters
Robert Peters
3,728 Points

Script works in workspaces but not offline

I'm trying to update a little script that I started on workspaces, wanted to mess about offline for a while with it. It works perfectly on here, just one simple function, but on my Linux terminal or on the Cygwin terminal on Windows, i just keep getting a syntax error. Im a complete beginner so have NO idea what the problem could be!

Please could someone help?

Link to snapshot: https://w.trhou.se/ynvz8jpi6r

If it helps, my Python version is 3.5 so as far as I know up to date.

Robert Peters
Robert Peters
3,728 Points

3.5 on Linux anyway, not on Cygwin

2 Answers

Christopher Shaw
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Christopher Shaw
Python Web Development Techdegree Graduate 58,248 Points

I suspect you are running python 2 as the default, even if you have installed python 3. I have found that the default python on Linux and Mac tends to be 2. (Sorry, I do not use windows)

To test, I copied and pasted your code into a file (err.py) on my Linux machine. If I ran python err.py, it produced the same error. If I ran python3 err.py, it worked correctly.

If you type python in the Linux terminal, it will will tell you the version. My default is 2.7.10. As I have both 2 and 3 installed, when I type python3, the version is. 3.4.3.

When you have a bit more experience, you should look at creating a virtual environment. This does look confusing at first, but you can create an environment with python3 as the default, and any packages you install with pip, are only in the environment, not at the system level. You can of course have multiple environments for different project requirements.

Robert Peters
Robert Peters
3,728 Points
Robert Peters
Robert Peters
3,728 Points

Thanks yeah that was the problem, ill look into the virtual environments properly soon! I managed to get python on windows command line and powershell set up (withought a virt. env) thanks to the workspace video on here, but I do like to use Linux, just starting so not all that familiar with it but eventually I reckon ill make the switch for good. Thanks for the answer pal!