pure aesthetic question

[Alex Martelli]

<posted & mailed>

Helmut Jarausch wrote:

> as far as I know I have to put a Python script
> into a file with suffix '.py' (e.g. BackUp.py)
> and if it gets compiled there is a BackUp.pyc or
> BackUp.pyo file.

This is a must only for source files you want to
import as modules (indeed the compilation only
happens for such modules).

> Is it possible (under Linux) to get the plain name
> BackUp
> which executes the compiled and/or optimized script
> when invoked by the shell (system)

Sure!  Put the textfile named BackUp on some directory
on your $PATH, chmod +rx it, and have as its first line:

#!/usr/local/bin/python

or whatever other path invokes your favourite Python -- a
popular choice is:

#!/usr/bin/env python


You can also have commandline switches on that line,
such as a trailing -O to tell Python to "optimize".


Alex