I have a python program which posts to my local web server. The script runs on a raspberry pi running the latest version of raspbian 3.18. How can I make the Python script run at startup? Raspbian has a login password which is the first thing I have to remove. If the power ever goes out I want the pi to reboot and start running my script again. Should I be using Raspbian for this? The script is the only thing the pi is used for. I tried adding the script to /etc/init.d but I do not think it will run either way if the pi requires login info upon booting.
You can use the Linux crontab to run the Python script. Let's go to root and create a shell script. 
sudo -i
nano startup.sh
Then type your python script on this bash script. navigate to home directory, then to this directory, then execute python script, then back home.
cd /
cd home/pi/your directory
sudo python yourpythonscript.py
cd /
Save the script and then exit. Make this sh script executable by giving it permission. 
chmod 755 startup.sh
Now open and edit rc.local file.
nano /etc/rc.local
Add /root/startup.sh & before exit 0
now save and exit from the file and reboot your pi.
sudo reboot
Start shell script on Raspberry Pi startup