FileNotFoundError while trying to run a C++ code using Python

Question

I'm new to C++ and I want to run this C++ code using python.

The C++ code

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("hello this is inside c++ ");
    return 0;
}

The Python Code

import subprocess

print("in python file")
subprocess.call(["gcc", "c_file.cpp"])
subprocess.call("./a.out")
print("task is done")

The error I'm getting when I run using the python file

    Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\Amiru Randil\PycharmProjects\pythonRunC++Code\main.py", line 5, in <module>
    subprocess.call(["gcc", "c_file.c"])
  File "C:\Python382\lib\subprocess.py", line 349, in call
    with Popen(*popenargs, **kwargs) as p:
  File "C:\Python382\lib\subprocess.py", line 947, in __init__
    self._execute_child(args, executable, preexec_fn, close_fds,
  File "C:\Python382\lib\subprocess.py", line 1416, in _execute_child
    hp, ht, pid, tid = _winapi.CreateProcess(executable, args,
FileNotFoundError: [WinError 2] The system cannot find the file specified

you need to put the full path to gcc ... you can find this with where gcc when you run it from cmd.exe — Joran Beasley
– Joran Beasley, Commented Mar 23, 2021 at 5:25
a. out is the default executable name generated by the gcc. So it's not a file, it's a command to run the C++ file — Amiru Randil
– Amiru Randil, Commented Mar 23, 2021 at 5:51
I highly advise against using Python as a build system. Probably the most versatile and well used build system is CMake, which can be configured for pretty much everything under the sun. It takes a bit to learn to use properly, but it's so powerful. — Gabe Ron
– Gabe Ron, Commented Mar 23, 2021 at 7:41

recurseuntilfor · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-23 08:24:47Z

1

As your error shows you are in windows so the executable will not be called a.out it will be a.exe also ./ is not used in windows.

import subprocess

print("in python file")
subprocess.call(["gcc", "c_file.cpp"])
# change ./a.out to a.exe
subprocess.call("a.exe")
print("task is done")

edited Mar 23, 2021 at 8:24

answered Mar 23, 2021 at 7:34

recurseuntilfor

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1 Comment

Gabe Ron Over a year ago

Also, an automated Python script is not what should be used as a build system. CMake is the most prominent build system for a reason

Geeky Quentin · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-05 18:07:06Z

1

Can you compile and run the cpp file standalone? That is, are you able to run it normally? Because I do not see any error in your code apart from thinking that you have not installed the c++ compiler.

Here is my c_file.cpp:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("hello this is inside c++\n");
    return 0;
}

and this is my run_c.py:

import subprocess

print("in python file")
subprocess.call(["g++", "c_file.cpp"])
subprocess.call("./a.out")
print("task is done")

When I run it, I get the correct output printed. Like so:python run_c.py

in python file
hello this is inside c++
task is done

edited Dec 5, 2022 at 18:07

Geeky Quentin

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answered Mar 23, 2021 at 6:30

lllrnr101

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