Python Not Running in Git Bash Command Line

When using Git Bash on Windows, users may encounter difficulties running Python. Upon entering "python" in the command line, the expected response is a blank line, devoid of the usual entry into Python 2.7.10 as observed in Powershell. The absence of error messages further complicates the troubleshooting process.

Environmental Variables

As a preliminary check, ensure that the environmental variables in PATH include the directory "c:\python27". If this condition is met, further investigation is warranted.

Temporary Solution

For immediate resolution, execute the following command in your Git Bash shell:

alias python='winpty python.exe'

This alias establishes a link to the Python executable and will be effective for the current shell session.

Permanent Solution

For a lasting fix, add the same command to your .bashrc file located in the user's home directory. Two approaches are available:

Using Command Line Interface (CLI)

From Git Bash, input the following:

echo "alias python='winpty python.exe'" >> ~/.bashrc

This command creates or appends the alias to the .bashrc file.

Using Text Editor

Alternatively, manually create a .bashrc file in your home directory using a text editor.

Once created, add the following line to the file:

alias python='winpty python.exe'

Apply the changes by either executing "source .bashrc" or restarting the shell.

Update

Recent versions of Git employ .bash_profile instead of .bashrc. Conda also utilizes this profile during initialization. Caution should be exercised to avoid deleting or overwriting existing initialization blocks. For further information, refer to Git for Windows doesn't execute my .bashrc file.