How to use same python cgi file on windows and linux (apache)?

Question

Using python as CGI on linux/apache server, The first line (one that defines the interpreter, shebang) should be like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python

Running same python CGI on windows/apache server, the first line (one that defines the interpreter) should be like this: (assuming that python installed to c:/python27)

#!c:/python27/python.exe

Is there option to set identical line so that no changes will be needed while moving files from linux to windows?

You may look at the answer about perl shebang on windows: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2036577/how-do-i-ignore-the-perl-shebang-on-windows-with-apache-2 — Yaacov Zamir, Dec 11 '13 at 17:33
Please do not add "solved" to your question title. If you figured out a solution of your own, please post it as an answer and [accept it](http://meta.stackexchange.com/a/5235/220538) by clicking the check mark in the left margin. — Amal Murali, Dec 28 '13 at 14:50
@GuyDafny: Please read my comment carefully. I said "Please do **not** add "solved" to your question title ...". :) — Amal Murali, Dec 29 '13 at 10:10
@Amal Murali: Thanks again, Sorry - English isn't my native language, I've tried to read too fast. — Guy Dafny, Dec 29 '13 at 10:15

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 24 '19 at 02:56

So you have the shebang line #!/usr/bin/env python What you are missing in Windows is literally the env.exe application.

Download the following ZIP files from the GnuWin project https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnuwin32/files/coreutils/5.3.0/:
- coreutils-5.3.0-bin.zip
- coreutils-5.3.0-dep.zip
Create \usr\bin folder on the same drive, where Apache HTTP for Windows starts from, for example: c:\usr\bin
Extract into created \usr\bin folder:
- env.exe from coreutils-5.3.0-bin.zip;
- libiconv2.dll, libintl3.dll from coreutils-5.3.0-dep.zip

You should have the following files there:

C:\usr\bin>dir
 Volume in drive C is OSDisk
 Volume Serial Number is DEAD-BEEF

 Directory of C:\usr\bin

01/23/2019  10:24 AM    <DIR>          .
01/23/2019  10:24 AM    <DIR>          ..
04/20/2005  01:41 PM            24,064 env.exe
03/16/2004  03:37 PM           898,048 libiconv2.dll
10/09/2004  11:25 AM           101,888 libintl3.dll
               3 File(s)      1,024,000 bytes

Bingo! Now your Apache will interpret the shebang line correctly.

A bonus step

For those who would like to run Python CGI scripts from Python virtual environment.

If you have Python virtual environment created in c:\py-venv, add the following lines into an Apache httpd.conf for a directory where your Python CGI scripts will be located. The scripts will be executed by Apache using Python virtual environment's binaries and modules.

# Python virtual environment folder
Define VENV "c:/py-venv"
# Python CGI scripts location
Define PY_CGI "c:/test/cgi"

<Directory "${PY_CGI}">
    AllowOverride None
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
    Options ExecCGI FollowSymLinks
    Options -Indexes
    Require all granted
    SetEnv VIRTUAL_ENV ${VENV}
    SetEnv PATH "${VENV}/Scripts;${PATH}"
</Directory>

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

Full answer described here: http://my.opera.com/NoteMe/blog/running-python-as-cgi-in-apache-in-windows

Under Windows - Next changes to the apache config file:

AddHandler cgi-script .py

remove the "hash" ("#") from the next line:

#ScriptInterpreterSource Registry

More details and some additional data about security in this case can be found here: How do you use the Apache "ScriptInterpreterSource Registry-Strict" directive?

How to use same python cgi file on windows and linux (apache)?

2 Answers2

A bonus step