Running Code

What It Is

Running code means telling your computer to execute the instructions you've written. When you run a Python file, the computer reads your code line by line and performs each action.

Why We Use It

Writing code is only half the job — you need to run it to see what it does! Running your code lets you:

See your program's output immediately
Test if your code works correctly
Find and fix errors (a normal part of coding!)

It's like drawing up a play in sports: the diagram is important, but you have to run it on the field to see if it works.

How to Run Python Code in Cursor

Method 1: Using the Terminal (Recommended)

Save your file using File > Save (or Cmd + S on Mac, Ctrl + S on Windows/Chromebook) — always save before running!
Open the terminal using View > Terminal (or Cmd + ~ on Mac, Ctrl + ~ on Windows/Chromebook)
Navigate to your file's folder (if needed):
```
cd /path/to/your/folder
```
Run your Python file:
```
python achievement.py
```
See the output appear in the terminal

Method 2: Using the Run Button

Save your file
Look for a "Run" or "Play" button (▶) in the top-right of the editor
Click it to run your code
Output appears in the terminal below

Understanding Terminal Output

When you run your code, you'll see one of two things:

Successful Output

$ python achievement.py
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game!

Your code ran and printed the message. Success!

Error Messages

$ python achievement.py
  File "achievement.py", line 1
    print("Hello
          ^
SyntaxError: unterminated string literal

Don't panic! Errors are normal and helpful. They tell you:

Which file has the problem (achievement.py)
Which line to check (line 1)
What went wrong (unterminated string literal — you forgot the closing quote)

The Run-Check-Fix Cycle

Coding is an iterative process. You'll repeat this cycle many times:

  ┌──────────┐
  │  Write   │
  │   Code   │
  └────┬─────┘
       │
       ▼
  ┌──────────┐
  │   Run    │
  │   Code   │
  └────┬─────┘
       │
       ▼
  ┌──────────┐     Error?     ┌──────────┐
  │  Check   │ ─────────────► │   Fix    │
  │  Output  │                │   Code   │
  └────┬─────┘                └────┬─────┘
       │                           │
       │ Works!                    │
       ▼                           │
  ┌──────────┐                     │
  │   Done   │ ◄───────────────────┘
  └──────────┘

Every programmer, even professionals with decades of experience, goes through this cycle constantly.

Common Pitfalls

Problem	Solution
"No such file or directory"	Make sure you're in the right folder, or use the full file path
Nothing happens when I run	Check that you saved the file, and that it has `.py` extension
Old output still showing	Scroll down in the terminal — new output appears at the bottom
"python: command not found"	Try `python3` instead of `python`, or reinstall Python

Quick Reference

# Save your file first, then in terminal:
python achievement.py

# If that doesn't work, try:
python3 achievement.py

# To clear the terminal (start fresh):
# Mac: Cmd + K
# Windows/Chromebook: Type 'cls' and press Enter