summary test your knowledgequiz test your knowledgeanswers how python runs programs introducing the python interpreter program execution the programmer' view python' view execution model variations python implementation alternatives execution optimization tools frozen binaries future possibilitiessummary test your knowledgequiz test your knowledgeanswers how you run programs the interactive prompt starting an interactive session the system path new windows options in pathlauncher where to runcode directories what not to typeprompts and comments running code interactively why the interactive promptusage notesthe interactive prompt system command lines and files first script running files with command lines command-line usage variations usage notescommand lines and files unix-style executable scripts#unix script basics the unix env lookup trick the python windows launcher#comes to windows clicking file icons icon-click basics clicking icons on windows the input trick on windows other icon-click limitations vi table of contents