runthe

Runthe is a term found in online technical communities and informal documentation. It functions as an imperative to execute a program, script, or task, and is typically read as the compact form of the phrase “run the.” While not a formal command in any operating system, runthe appears in chat messages, README comments, and tutorial notes where brevity is valued.

The word is a blend of run and the definite article the, and is part of a broader trend of collapsing common phrases in code-related communication. Usage evidence is primarily anecdotal, with examples appearing in discussion threads and notebooks from the 2010s onward.

In practice, runthe is used to prompt execution of a script, command, or step. Examples include “runthe deploy script” or “runthe next cell” in a notebook. In formal documentation, the phrase is discouraged in favor of explicit commands such as “run the deploy script” or “execute the next cell.” The term is considered slang or colloquial, and its acceptability depends on audience and context.

Variants and related terms include “run-the” with a hyphen, and broader imperatives to execute code, such as “execute,” “launch,” or “start.” Runthe is most common in informal forums, collaborative environments, and rapid-prototyping contexts, where concise language helps keep discussions flowing. See also run, execute, command-line interfaces, and jargon in software development.