Why do different prompts affect how I can run Python code in VSCode?

Question

In VSCode, I can run Python code from a .py file by selecting the code in the editor then typing shift+enter. It runs without error and opens a Python terminal (prompt turns to >>>). However, when my prompt turns to >>>, the below approaches to running code produce both SyntaxError: invalid syntax and KeyboardInterrupt errors:

Left-clicking the arrow button near the top right of the screen and selecting "Run Python File"
Right-clicking the editor and selecting "Run Python File in Terminal"

Other approaches involving the arrow button, right-clicking the editor, or use of shift+enter do not produce these errors. Additionally, if I use any approach that doesn't produce the >>> prompt, none of these produce an error.

Can anyone explain what is going on? I can't find any documentation explaining what is happening with the terminal and how it relates to these errors. FWIW, I'm working with a virtual environment containing only numpy.

Here's an example .py file:

import numpy as np

msg = "Roll a dice!"  # in-line comment

print(msg)
print(np.random.randint(1,9))
print(5+5)  # in-line comment

BRZ owner · Accepted Answer · 2025-01-16 02:27:51Z

1

>>> means python.exe is running.

SyntaxError: invalid syntax:

>>> xx/Programs/Python/Python313/python.exe test.py
  File "<python-input-0>", line 1
   xx/Programs/Python/Python313/python.exe test.py
      ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

It means executing cmd in a python program. Of course this is wrong syntax.

Input exit() to exit python first.

answered Jan 16 at 2:27

BRZ owner

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