What's the difference between python shebangs with /usr/bin/env rather than hard-path?

66
votes

I used to use the shebang 

#!/usr/bin/env python

When is it better to use

#!/usr/bin/python

What is the exact difference between them?

1
pythonpathenvironmentshebang
Did you try man env to see what the env app does? - S.Lott
possible duplicate of Why do people write #!/usr/bin/env python on the first line of a Python script? - dnozay
@S.Lott I assumed env was a directory, not an executable. - ArtOfWarfare
Possible duplicate of Should I put #! (shebang) in Python scripts, and what form should it take? - codeaviator

1 Answers

81
votes

#!/usr/bin/python is hardcoded to always run /usr/bin/python, while #!/usr/bin/env python will run whichever python would be default in your current environment (it will take in account for example $PATH, you can check which python interpreter will be used with which python).

The second way ( #!/usr/bin/env python ) is preferred , as it's not dependent on particular installation. It will work for example with virtualenv setups or systems where there is no /usr/bin/python, but only e.g. /usr/local/bin/python.