Why is '#!/usr/bin/env python' supposedly more correct than just '#!/usr/bin/python'?
Question:
Anyone know this? I’ve never been able to find an answer.
Answers:
It finds ‘python’ also in /usr/local/bin, ~/bin, /opt/bin, … or wherever it may hide.
You may find this post to be of interest:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2008-May/661514.html
This may be a better explanation:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/tutor/2007-June/054816.html
If you’re prone to installing python in various and interesting places on your PATH (as in $PATH in typical Unix shells, %PATH on typical Windows ones), using /usr/bin/env will accomodate your whim (well, in Unix-like environments at least) while going directly to /usr/bin/python won’t. But losing control of what version of Python your scripts run under is no unalloyed bargain… if you look at my code you’re more likely to see it start with, e.g., #!/usr/local/bin/python2.5 rather than with an open and accepting #!/usr/bin/env python — assuming the script is important I like to ensure it’s run with the specific version I have tested and developed it with, NOT a semi-random one;-).
From wikipedia
Shebangs specify absolute paths to system executables; this can cause
problems on systems which have non-standard file system layouts
Often, the program /usr/bin/env can be used to circumvent this
limitation
it finds the python executable in your environment and uses that. it’s more portable because python may not always be in /usr/bin/python. env is always located in /usr/bin.
Anyone know this? I’ve never been able to find an answer.
It finds ‘python’ also in /usr/local/bin, ~/bin, /opt/bin, … or wherever it may hide.
You may find this post to be of interest:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2008-May/661514.html
This may be a better explanation:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/tutor/2007-June/054816.html
If you’re prone to installing python in various and interesting places on your PATH (as in $PATH in typical Unix shells, %PATH on typical Windows ones), using /usr/bin/env will accomodate your whim (well, in Unix-like environments at least) while going directly to /usr/bin/python won’t. But losing control of what version of Python your scripts run under is no unalloyed bargain… if you look at my code you’re more likely to see it start with, e.g., #!/usr/local/bin/python2.5 rather than with an open and accepting #!/usr/bin/env python — assuming the script is important I like to ensure it’s run with the specific version I have tested and developed it with, NOT a semi-random one;-).
From wikipedia
Shebangs specify absolute paths to system executables; this can cause
problems on systems which have non-standard file system layoutsOften, the program /usr/bin/env can be used to circumvent this
limitation
it finds the python executable in your environment and uses that. it’s more portable because python may not always be in /usr/bin/python. env is always located in /usr/bin.