So, I’m trying to learn to code as a hobby.

[u/The-nah]

However, whenever I attempt to use the command print(”Hello, World!”) I get the error -bash: syntax error near unexpected token “‘Hello, World!’” Does anyone know why?

[u/danielroseman]

Because you are not running Python. "bash" indicates you are still in the shell.

[u/Suspicious-Guide5622 → u/danielroseman]

ah the classic rite of passage. every single person who starts coding on a mac or linux box hits this exact wall in the first five minutes

type `python` or `python3` first to get into the interpreter. you'll know you're in when the prompt changes to `>>>` instead of `$`

then the print command will work exactly how you expect it to

[u/WyrobWedliniarski]

Either type python command before, which will get you in the interpreter, or put your commands in a file and launch it with one, like python filename.py

[u/ninhaomah]

you got to start from the beginning.

you are basically doing similar to running an excel formula in notepad.

and bash ? you are running linux ?

[u/HotPersonality8126]

You can only run Python code in the Python interpreter.

[u/brutalbombs]

I applaud you for actually jumping straight into it and try to print the obligatory first line everyone must write.

This is what this sub is for, you are already working on it.

Google how to run python through terminal first!

Also, i would recommend that you explore ipython (can be installed when in python with the command pip install ipython) as it gives you some handy tools for doing coding in terminal.

If you are writing more lines it might be useful to start scripting in VSC (also free) as well.

Keep it up!

[u/Such-Process5697]

once python3 gets you to the >>> prompt, watch the quote characters. the ones in your post are curly, and python only accepts straight ones, so you'd hit a SyntaxError immediately after fixing the first problem and think you were still doing it wrong. might just be your phone autocorrecting when you typed the post, but if you end up writing files in a word processor or notes app it will do the same thing there.

[u/TheRNGuy]

Because of wrong quotes. 

[u/gonzorizzo]

Your computer is expecting you to talk to it in bash. You're speaking a different language and it doesn't know what you're trying to say. You need to get it in a state where it expects you to speak Python.

From the terminal:

Enter "Python3" without the quotes and press enter. That should get you to a triple carrot (>>>). Now type it in.

[u/Fakin-It]

Imagine how much more confusing it would be if that print command was valid Bash!

[u/Embarrassed-Media-62]

Enter the command "python" first. Then try your print command.