Change name of executable file when using chmod +x

Question

I have python file my_script.py

When I run:

chmod +x my_script.py

I end up with two files that are called my_script.py, one executable file and one python file, when I try to get the size of the file:

du -sh my_script.py

I am getting the size of the python file (4.0K), but I want to know the size of the executable.

Is there a way to change a name of the executable file? To something say my_script without .py ?

Answer 1

There is only 1 file, my_script.py. Doing a simple chmod +x does NOT "end up with two files called my_script.py" (what would the 2nd my_script.py be called?).

Since Python is an interpreted language, you might want to consider the size of the python interpreter, and both the dynamic libraries and interpreted libraries it uses.

When the execve system call (see man 2 execve) notices that my_script.py is executable (has the x bit set), and begins with "#!<interpreter>" it runs <interpreter> my_script.py (interpreter> is probably /usr/bin/python in your case).

So, you can simply mv my_script.py my_script. Unlike that other operating system, Unix/Linux filenames do NOT govern how the files are executed.

Answer 2

Execute this command to change name of file while making it executable.

chmod +x my_script.py && mv my_script.py mv_myscript