Skip to content

Working with Python scripts

Learning objectives

  • Practice using the UPPMAX documentation
  • To be able to create a Python script
  • To be able to run a Python script
For teachers

Teaching goals are:

  • Learners have practiced using the UPPMAX documentation
  • Learners have created a Python script
  • Learners have run a Python script

Other goals are:

  • Verify that learners indeed have learned how to create a file
  • Verify that learners indeed have learned how to use a text editor

Lesson plan:

  • 5 mins: prior knowledge
  • 5 mins: presentation
  • 15 mins: challenge
  • 5 mins: feedback

Prior questions:

  • Why would you want to use a script?
  • In which languages can one write a script?
  • How does one run a script?

Why?

You have multiple lines of code you want a computer to run. Instead of copy-pasting these lines individually to the interpreter, one can use a script.

To run code, we use text files that are run as if each line was typed in into the Python interpreter. Such text files that run (interpreted) code are called 'scripts'.

In this session, we practice to create and run some simple Python scripts, now -unlike the previous chapter- without new theory.

flowchart TD
    python[[Python]]

    %% Give a white background to all nodes, instead of a transparent one
    classDef node fill:#fff,color:#000,stroke:#000

    subgraph sub_programming_language[Python as a language]
      interpreted_language[Interpreted language]
      programming_language[Programming language]
      scripting_language[Scripting language]
      interpreter[Interpreter]
      scripts[Scripts]
      text_files[Text files]
    end
    style sub_programming_language fill:#ccf,color:#000,stroke:#fcc


    subgraph sub_uppmax[UPPMAX]
      uppmax[UPPMAX]
      uppmax_modules[UPPMAX modules]
      uppmax_clusters[UPPMAX clusters]
      text_editors[Text editors]
      %%x_forwarding[X-forwarding]
      %%remote_desktop[Remote desktop]
    end
    style sub_uppmax fill:#fcc,color:#000,stroke:#fcc

    python --> |is a| programming_language
    python --> |is a| interpreted_language
    python --> |is a| scripting_language

    programming_language --> |uses| text_files
    interpreted_language --> |has a| interpreter
    scripting_language --> |is a|interpreted_language
    scripting_language --> |runs| scripts
    scripts --> |are| text_files
    %% scripts --> |can use| command_line_arguments

    uppmax --> |has| uppmax_clusters
    uppmax_clusters --> |have| uppmax_modules
    uppmax_clusters --> |have| text_editors
    %%uppmax_clusters --> |allow| x_forwarding
    %%uppmax_clusters --> |has| remote_desktop
    %% uppmax_modules --> |allow the use of| python_packages
    uppmax_modules --> |allow the use of| interpreter

    text_editors --> |work on|text_files
    %%x_forwarding --> |allows|graphics
    %%remote_desktop --> |allows|graphics


    %% variables ~~~ uppmax

Exercises

See the exercise procedure here.

Exercise 1: create a Python script

Go to the UPPMAX documentation at https://docs.uppmax.uu.se, then answer these questions:

  • On Rackham, create a file called hello_world.py, using a text editor or Linux commands
Answer

Text editors are documented at https://docs.uppmax.uu.se/software/text_editors/.

The simplest text editor is called nano and is documented at https://docs.uppmax.uu.se/software/nano/.

Creating a Python script hello_world.py using nano:

nano hello_world.py
  • Copy-paste the following content into the script:
print('Hello, world!')
Answer

To paste into a terminal, use CTRL + SHIFT + V (i.e. add SHIFT).

  • Save the script
Answer

In nano, you can do so with CTRL + O

  • Close the text editor
Answer

In nano, you can do so with CTRL + X

  • Verify that the script has its contents saved
Answer

One way to do so, is to use nano to open the file again:

nano hello_world.py

Exercise 2: run a Python script

Read the UPPMAX page on running a Python script, here

Go to the UPPMAX documentation at https://docs.uppmax.uu.se, then answer these questions:

  • Find the UPPMAX page on Python programming
Answer

It can be found at https://docs.uppmax.uu.se/software/python_programming/

  • Run the Python script you just created
Answer

You can run this Python script in the shell by:

python hello_world.py