shebang env preferred python version

#!/bin/sh
''''which python2 >/dev/null 2>&1 && exec python2 "$0" "$@" # '''
''''which python  >/dev/null 2>&1 && exec python  "$0" "$@" # '''
''''exec echo "Error: I can't find python anywhere"         # '''

import sys
print sys.argv

This is first run as a shell script. You can put almost any shell code in between '''' and # '''. Such code will be executed by the shell. Then, when python runs on the file, python will ignore the lines as they look like triple-quoted strings to python.

The shell script tests if the binary exists in the path with which python2 >/dev/null and then executes it if so (with all arguments in the right place). For more on this, see Why does this snippet with a shebang #!/bin/sh and exec python inside 4 single quotes work?

Note: The line starts with four ' and their must be no space between the fourth ' and the start of the shell command (which...)

Something like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import sys
import os
if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
    os.execvp("python2.7", ["python2.7", __file__])
    os.execvp("python2.6", ["python2.6", __file__])
    os.execvp("python2", ["python2", __file__])
    print ("No sutable version of Python found")
    exit(2)

Update Below is a more robust version of the same.

#!/bin/bash

ok=bad
for pyth in python python2.7 python2.6 python2; do
  pypath=$(type -P $pyth)
  if [[ -x $pypath ]] ; then
    ok=$(
      $pyth <<@@

import sys 
if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
  print ("ok")
else:
  print("bad")
@@

    )
    if [[ $ok == ok ]] ; then
      break
    fi
  fi
done

if [[ $ok != ok ]]; then
  echo "Could not find suitable python version"
  exit 2
fi

$pyth <<@@
<<< your python script goes here >>>
@@