Call Python script from bash with argument

Question

I know that I can run a python script from my bash script using the following:

python python_script.py

But what about if I wanted to pass a

Answer 1

Embedded option:

Wrap python code in a bash function.

#!/bin/bash

function current_datetime {
python - <<END
import datetime
print datetime.datetime.now()
END
}

# Call it
current_datetime

# Call it and capture the output
DT=$(current_datetime)
echo Current date and time: $DT

Use environment variables, to pass data into to your embedded python script.

#!/bin/bash

function line {
PYTHON_ARG="$1" python - <<END
import os
line_len = int(os.environ['PYTHON_ARG'])
print '-' * line_len
END
}

# Do it one way
line 80

# Do it another way
echo $(line 80)

http://bhfsteve.blogspot.se/2014/07/embedding-python-in-bash-scripts.html

Answer 2

Beside sys.argv, also take a look at the argparse module, which helps define options and arguments for scripts.

The argparse module makes it easy to write user-friendly command-line interfaces.