Python script fails with ": command not found"

From ben.goodacre.name/tech

Problem

When running a Python script it fails with the following output:

: command not found

Cause

as it appears - this is a path issue. Python scripts have a tendency to have no [1] at the top and consequently your script may be being executed by your standard shell instead of python.

Resolution

• Try running the script with python interpreter directly:

python script.py