Executable symbolic link results in "command not found"

Question

I created a symbolic link (yesterday) like this:

sudo ln -s bin/python /usr/bin/prj-python

When I run:

prj-python file.py

I get:

prj-python: command not found

When I try creating the link again, I get:

ln: creating symbolic link `/usr/bin/prj-python': File exists

Why is that happening? My $PATH is:

/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/opt/real/RealPlayer

score 32 · Answer 1 · edited Nov 14 '18 at 23:28

32

Things to check:

Perform an ls -l /usr/bin/prj-python

If it's like:

lrwxrwxrwx (...) /usr/bin/prj-python -> bin/python

The file will actually be searched at /usr/bin/bin/python (that's what xralf tried to say). Fix:

rm /usr/bin/prj-python
ln -s /full/path/to/your/python /usr/bin/python-prj

If your bin/python is a shell script (aka. wrapper-script) check the #!-line (sometimes called shebang-line) at the first line. If there's a typo like #!/bin/bush that will cause a not found error message also.

edited Nov 14 '18 at 23:28

Jeff Schaller

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answered Oct 17 '11 at 09:29

ktf

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thank you, your answer is even more careful and educational. Sorry I already accepted. – xralf Oct 17 '11 at 09:52
this helped a lot...most of the answers if found were about $PATH – Ja8zyjits Jan 16 '16 at 16:15
I use an ln without a parameter . People should use ln -s indeed, thus creating a symbolic link. – Cedric Sep 14 '17 at 08:43
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Helped, and I used `ln -s $PWD/python /usr/bin/python-prj`. `$PWD` is used for getting full path. – Manwal Jan 10 '19 at 07:19

score 29 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 16 '11 at 18:34

29

You forgot the initial slash before bin/python. This means /usr/bin/prj-python now points to /usr/bin/bin/python. What would you like it to point to exactly?

answered Oct 16 '11 at 18:34

janmoesen

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There is not initial slash. the `pwd` is `/home/xralf/my_virtual_env` and it has subdirectory `bin` with `python` command – xralf Oct 16 '11 at 18:44
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Than, you've forgot `$PWD/` before `bin`. – rvs Oct 16 '11 at 20:38
Thank you, this helped. I used this command as it was in the book. – xralf Oct 17 '11 at 09:50

Executable symbolic link results in "command not found"

2 Answers2