Crontab - Python run problem

E

ekoo

Hello, I have added a Python script to crontab. The script does not work from crontab (only through manual operation), and I receive a message through the mail:

Code: 
From root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com Sat Dec 14 07:09:00 2013
Return-Path: <root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com>
Received: from xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com (localhost [127.0.0.1])
	by xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com (8.14.5/8.14.5) with ESMTP id rBE790ZY001131
	for <root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com>; Sat, 14 Dec 2013 07:09:00 GMT
	(envelope-from root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com)
Received: (from root@localhost)
	by xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com (8.14.5/8.14.5/Submit) id xxxxxxxx;
	Sat, 14 Dec 2013 07:09:00 GMT
	(envelope-from root)
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2013 07:09:00 GMT
Message-Id: <201312140709.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com>
From: root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com (Cron Daemon)
To: root@xxxxxx.hosted.by.stagnom.com
Subject: Cron <root@xxxxxx> cd /usr/path && python script.py
X-Cron-Env: <SHELL=/bin/sh>
X-Cron-Env: <HOME=/root>
X-Cron-Env: <PATH=/usr/bin:/bin>
X-Cron-Env: <LOGNAME=root>
X-Cron-Env: <USER=root>

python: not found
 
Short answer: The Interrupted Unix FAQ, #2.

Longer answer: those email headers show the cron environment. Is python on that path? No. Some suggest modifying the path in the crontab, but I prefer using full paths as the more portable solution.
 
I know this is an age-old thread, but it's relevant - partly because this page came up on a Google search for: crontab "python: not found"

I am running /usr/local/bin/gcloud (the command line Google Cloud Engine utility) via crontab. It is coded in Python, I believe. When I try to run a cron script that calls /usr/local/bin/gcloud, I get this error:

Code: 
/usr/local/bin/gcloud: python: not found
I am following The Interrupted Unix FAQ, #2, but the program I am calling is having path problems.

What is the elegant/correct way to solve this?
 
In your case setting PATH in the crontab(1) or at the top of your own script would be the easiest and cleanest solution.
 
In my script, I added

Code: 
echo "PATH: ${PATH}"
And the output I got was:

Code: 
PATH: /sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/home/myusername/bin:/home/myusername/Scripts:/home/myusername/.rvm/bin
Also...

Code: 
ls -lah l /usr/local/bin/python
ls: l: No such file or directory
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel     7B 17 Jun 18:23 /usr/local/bin/python -> python2

Now I wonder - why is python not found?

I should also note that this is a script run from my own crontab, not root.
 
dave said:
And the output I got was:

Code: 
PATH: /sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/home/myusername/bin:/home/myusername/Scripts:/home/myusername/.rvm/bin
Click to expand...
Did you get that path running the script yourself or from crontab(1)?
 
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