newbie simple exec problems

[Steve Holden]

Matthew Barre wrote:
> 
> That works, thank you. What do I need to do to get it to work for cgi? Can I
> just put ~user/cgi-bin/.cgi.py?
> 
> > From: Michael Hudson <mwh21 at cam.ac.uk>
> > Organization: University of Cambridge, England
> > Matthew Barre <mbarre at mac.com> writes:
> >
> >> I have been learning python on my mac, and I just setup a RH6.1 box on my
> >> little LAN to practice Python as a cgi tool etc. Well the cgi thing has me
> >> completely baffled and right now I can't even get a Hello World script to
> >> run at the prompt ie:
> >>
> >> $hello.py
> >> bash:unrecognized command
> >>
> >> I have tried chmod 0755 hello.py and
> >> chmod a+x hello.py
> >>
> >> The first line of the file is
> >> #!/usr/bin/python
> >>
> >> which is where I checked and that's where python is. I'm baffled. Right now
> >> if I try to get a cgi the browser just prints the script...ack...what am I
> >> doing wrong?
> >>
> >> -Matt
> >> ---------
> >> "Ray! When someone asks you if you're a god, you say YES!!" -Winston Zedmore
> >>
> >
> > Try
> >
> > $ ./hello.py
> >
> > `.' may well not be on your $PATH...
> >
> > HTH, HAND
> > Michael
> >
> > --
> > very few people approach me in real life and insist on proving they are
> > drooling idiots.                         -- Erik Naggum, comp.lang.lisp

No, the issue of your browser simply showing you the script is different.

First of all you have to let Apache (or whatever other server you are
using) know that the content of the *.py files has to be executed.  For
a simple start, try putting them in a cgi-bin directory.

When a web server serves content, it has to describe the TYPE of the
content.  It will normally do this with HTTP "Content-Type:" headers.
You will have to arrange for your CGI script to output such a header.

regards
 Steve
--
"If computing ever stops being fun, I'll stop doing it"