Running a Hello World Python Script on Xubuntu - Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to this easy-to-follow guide on running a "Hello World" Python script in Xubuntu. Whether you're a beginner or just brushing up, you'll find all the steps you need here. Let's get started!

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Step 1: Open the Terminal

The terminal is your way to communicate with your system via commands. To open the terminal in Xubuntu, follow one of these two methods:

1. Shortcut: Press Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. From Menu: Click on the whisker menu (Xubuntu logo in the top-left corner), type "Terminal" in the search bar, and click to open it.

Now that the terminal is open, you're ready to begin!

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Step 2: Check if Python is Installed

Xubuntu typically comes with Python installed. Let’s check if Python is available on your system. In the terminal, type the following command and hit Enter:

python3 --version

If Python is installed, you'll see something like this:

Python 3.x.x

If Python is not installed, no worries! Just run these commands to install it:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3

Once Python is installed, you’re good to go!

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Step 3: Write Your "Hello World" Python Script

Let’s create your first Python script—a simple program that prints "Hello, World!" on the screen.

Creating the File

1. In the terminal, type this command to open the nano text editor and create a new file called hello_world.py:

   nano hello_world.py
   

2. Now, write the following Python code inside nano:

   print("Hello, World!")
   

3. To save the file in nano:

   • Press Ctrl + O.
   • Hit Enter to confirm the filename.

4. To exit nano:

   • Press Ctrl + X.

Great job! You've just written your first Python script!

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Step 4: Run Your Python Script

Now that you’ve written the script, let’s run it.

Ensure You're in the Right Directory

Make sure you’re in the same directory where your hello_world.py script is saved. To check your current directory, use:

pwd

If the script isn’t in your current directory, navigate to the correct location using the cd command. For example, if you saved your file in the Documents folder, you would type:

cd ~/Documents

Run the Script

To run your Python script, simply type the following command in the terminal:

python3 hello_world.py

If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see this output:

Hello, World!

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Step 5: Celebrate! 🎉

You did it! You've successfully written and run your first Python script on Xubuntu. Take a moment to appreciate your achievement. 🎊

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Troubleshooting Tips

Here are a few common issues and solutions you might run into:

• Command not found error: Make sure you're using python3 and not just python when running your script.
• File not found error: Ensure you're in the same directory as your hello_world.py file. Use ls to list files in the current directory.
• Permission denied error: Make sure you have the correct permissions. You can try running the script with sudo if needed, but this shouldn’t be necessary for basic Python scripts.

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Next Steps

Now that you've mastered running a Python script, what's next? Here are a few ideas to keep you going:

• Modify the script to print other messages.
• Experiment with using variables and simple calculations in your script.
• Learn more about Python fundamentals like loops, functions, and conditionals.

Python is a versatile language, and you've just taken the first step on an exciting journey. Keep coding and exploring new ideas!

Happy coding! 😊 ```

This markdown file combines all of the instructions into one comprehensive guide. It's structured in a friendly and easy-to-follow format, perfect for students!