Run Python program from script file at Linux startup

[last updated: 2017-09-09]
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This is for Python on rPi

• Summary of how it works:
  • when you boot up, rc.local gets executed
  • in rc.local, you have put a script file (...sh) that gets executed
  • in your .sh file, you have one line, (eg. sudo python ...filename)
    that executes the python program you want to have run at bootup

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• Using a script file (.sh) in rc.local:
  • If you put a script file in rc.local, it will be executed every time you boot up.
    First you must create a script program containing a line to execute your python program
    • Create a file. It can have any un-used name, but must have a .sh extension.
      eg. create a file (using your preferred text editor) named runAtStartup.sh
      save the file wherever you want, but I put mine in /home/pi/Desktop/MyDocs/programs/scriptFiles/
    • It will have one line in it:
      sudo python [path/filename.py] &
      (if your program has an infinite loop, eg. a callback keypress routine, then you must add the "&" so it will continue to run in the background and let the rest of your rPi opsys boot up)
      or, in my case:
      sudo python /home/pi/Desktop/MyDocs/programs/python/sysFiles/autoRunAtStartup.py &
  • Make the script file executable:
    • from LXTerminal, execute:
      $ sudo chmod +x [path/filename.sh]
  • Then you add the script to the rc.local file that gets executed at startup
    • In LXT, navigate to the location of the rc.local file:
      $ cd /etc
    • open nano to edit the file:
      $ sudo nano rc.local
    • add this line at the end of the file, just above/before the 'exit 0' line:
      [path/filename.sh]
    • type ctrl-o to save, <cr> to confirm, and ctrl-x to exit nano
  • reboot to execute.

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