diff --git a/api/bin/zulip-send b/api/bin/zulip-send
index b314863294..3cd31ad088 100755
--- a/api/bin/zulip-send
+++ b/api/bin/zulip-send
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # zulip-send -- Sends a message to the specified recipients.
 
diff --git a/api/examples/create-user b/api/examples/create-user
index 2b8b6c92b4..55502c4d21 100755
--- a/api/examples/create-user
+++ b/api/examples/create-user
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012-2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/edit-message b/api/examples/edit-message
index d5eef21931..1939436053 100755
--- a/api/examples/edit-message
+++ b/api/examples/edit-message
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/get-public-streams b/api/examples/get-public-streams
index 8ba5405ed7..7ec65cdedc 100755
--- a/api/examples/get-public-streams
+++ b/api/examples/get-public-streams
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/list-members b/api/examples/list-members
index 137e66a130..acf2d2392b 100755
--- a/api/examples/list-members
+++ b/api/examples/list-members
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/list-subscriptions b/api/examples/list-subscriptions
index 10678beceb..84dd17d04c 100755
--- a/api/examples/list-subscriptions
+++ b/api/examples/list-subscriptions
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/print-events b/api/examples/print-events
index aab7535b2c..78cb488a65 100755
--- a/api/examples/print-events
+++ b/api/examples/print-events
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/print-messages b/api/examples/print-messages
index f33d4202c3..134b030dad 100755
--- a/api/examples/print-messages
+++ b/api/examples/print-messages
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/print-next-message b/api/examples/print-next-message
index c8358d68b9..c610896952 100755
--- a/api/examples/print-next-message
+++ b/api/examples/print-next-message
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/recent-messages b/api/examples/recent-messages
index 869f6a14bf..c1e15c9eaa 100755
--- a/api/examples/recent-messages
+++ b/api/examples/recent-messages
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/send-message b/api/examples/send-message
index 518fe55958..8c5ffa9889 100755
--- a/api/examples/send-message
+++ b/api/examples/send-message
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/subscribe b/api/examples/subscribe
index a40a82231c..9c2d92ef85 100755
--- a/api/examples/subscribe
+++ b/api/examples/subscribe
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/examples/unsubscribe b/api/examples/unsubscribe
index 693caaebfe..1c3b12c41c 100755
--- a/api/examples/unsubscribe
+++ b/api/examples/unsubscribe
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2012 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_config.py b/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_config.py
index c14db0b2d8..6020f6df9d 100644
--- a/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_mirror b/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_mirror
index f65dc21835..96817ecd41 100755
--- a/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_mirror
+++ b/api/integrations/asana/zulip_asana_mirror
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Asana integration for Zulip
diff --git a/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_config.py b/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_config.py
index 024ace0603..c343a69772 100644
--- a/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_mirror b/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_mirror
index ef3886962e..92b0ed4467 100755
--- a/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_mirror
+++ b/api/integrations/basecamp/zulip_basecamp_mirror
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Zulip mirror of Basecamp activity
diff --git a/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_config.py b/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_config.py
index fb37981322..d13d80d056 100644
--- a/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_mirror b/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_mirror
index 85159c04fe..cf32137759 100755
--- a/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_mirror
+++ b/api/integrations/codebase/zulip_codebase_mirror
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Zulip mirror of Codebase HQ activity
diff --git a/api/integrations/git/post-receive b/api/integrations/git/post-receive
index 6956f759fe..282a53c257 100755
--- a/api/integrations/git/post-receive
+++ b/api/integrations/git/post-receive
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Zulip notification post-receive hook.
diff --git a/api/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py b/api/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
index b0be000657..9b3157a914 100644
--- a/api/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/hg/zulip-changegroup.py b/api/integrations/hg/zulip-changegroup.py
index 4ab3509e47..79b5c7c269 100755
--- a/api/integrations/hg/zulip-changegroup.py
+++ b/api/integrations/hg/zulip-changegroup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Zulip hook for Mercurial changeset pushes.
diff --git a/api/integrations/nagios/nagios-notify-zulip b/api/integrations/nagios/nagios-notify-zulip
index 8f2dd28967..6145952fef 100755
--- a/api/integrations/nagios/nagios-notify-zulip
+++ b/api/integrations/nagios/nagios-notify-zulip
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import optparse
 import zulip
 
diff --git a/api/integrations/perforce/git_p4.py b/api/integrations/perforce/git_p4.py
index c40c9c2abf..b76451cfaf 100644
--- a/api/integrations/perforce/git_p4.py
+++ b/api/integrations/perforce/git_p4.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # git-p4.py -- A tool for bidirectional operation between a Perforce depot and git.
 #
diff --git a/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_change-commit.py b/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_change-commit.py
index 67a8b47249..146f0b57ac 100755
--- a/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_change-commit.py
+++ b/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_change-commit.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2012-2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_perforce_config.py b/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_perforce_config.py
index de36c30683..2928a0cd36 100644
--- a/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_perforce_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/perforce/zulip_perforce_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/rss/rss-bot b/api/integrations/rss/rss-bot
index b238315483..42910fcb21 100755
--- a/api/integrations/rss/rss-bot
+++ b/api/integrations/rss/rss-bot
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # RSS integration for Zulip
diff --git a/api/integrations/svn/post-commit b/api/integrations/svn/post-commit
index 7f67e13f10..dabfb125d7 100755
--- a/api/integrations/svn/post-commit
+++ b/api/integrations/svn/post-commit
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Zulip notification post-commit hook.
diff --git a/api/integrations/svn/zulip_svn_config.py b/api/integrations/svn/zulip_svn_config.py
index a69fc04083..70a84c9387 100644
--- a/api/integrations/svn/zulip_svn_config.py
+++ b/api/integrations/svn/zulip_svn_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-bot b/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-bot
index c71fc4ee86..aaecbeb0fa 100755
--- a/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-bot
+++ b/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-bot
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Twitter integration for Zulip
diff --git a/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-search-bot b/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-search-bot
index f097170818..fa3a0835a9 100755
--- a/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-search-bot
+++ b/api/integrations/twitter/twitter-search-bot
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Twitter search integration for Zulip
diff --git a/api/setup.py b/api/setup.py
index d26eaab1e8..2bf1da54df 100644
--- a/api/setup.py
+++ b/api/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from __future__ import print_function
diff --git a/assets/favicon/generate b/assets/favicon/generate
index b4a3fe0d51..1fde47e476 100755
--- a/assets/favicon/generate
+++ b/assets/favicon/generate
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 import subprocess
diff --git a/bots/check-mirroring b/bots/check-mirroring
index 2724361bfc..78a2b6672f 100755
--- a/bots/check-mirroring
+++ b/bots/check-mirroring
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 import sys
diff --git a/bots/gcal-bot b/bots/gcal-bot
index a4548b80ed..87a97f1d48 100755
--- a/bots/gcal-bot
+++ b/bots/gcal-bot
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 import time
diff --git a/bots/irc-mirror.py b/bots/irc-mirror.py
index beb5db5074..3e5aa2448e 100644
--- a/bots/irc-mirror.py
+++ b/bots/irc-mirror.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # EXPERIMENTAL
 # IRC <=> Zulip mirroring bot
diff --git a/bots/jabber_mirror.py b/bots/jabber_mirror.py
index f9f036db9f..2b7ef358c6 100755
--- a/bots/jabber_mirror.py
+++ b/bots/jabber_mirror.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Copyright (C) 2014 Zulip, Inc.
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
diff --git a/bots/jabber_mirror_backend.py b/bots/jabber_mirror_backend.py
index 9d4645b033..2a1bc059a0 100755
--- a/bots/jabber_mirror_backend.py
+++ b/bots/jabber_mirror_backend.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2013 Permabit, Inc.
 # Copyright (C) 2013--2014 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/bots/log2zulip b/bots/log2zulip
index 09449b6708..52386de1e6 100755
--- a/bots/log2zulip
+++ b/bots/log2zulip
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import subprocess
 import os
diff --git a/bots/process_ccache b/bots/process_ccache
index 28a0bd46b2..bc0b718830 100755
--- a/bots/process_ccache
+++ b/bots/process_ccache
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import sys
 import subprocess
 import base64
diff --git a/bots/sync-public-streams b/bots/sync-public-streams
index 46a3fd7e8b..b225bd120b 100755
--- a/bots/sync-public-streams
+++ b/bots/sync-public-streams
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import sys
 import os
 import logging
diff --git a/bots/tddium-notify-humbug b/bots/tddium-notify-humbug
index 2a97225781..6ab221cdfa 100755
--- a/bots/tddium-notify-humbug
+++ b/bots/tddium-notify-humbug
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Copyright (C) 2012 Zulip, Inc.
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
diff --git a/bots/zephyr_mirror.py b/bots/zephyr_mirror.py
index 204f6df67c..6f4d1eff0d 100755
--- a/bots/zephyr_mirror.py
+++ b/bots/zephyr_mirror.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Copyright (C) 2012 Zulip, Inc.
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
diff --git a/bots/zephyr_mirror_backend.py b/bots/zephyr_mirror_backend.py
index 44a253ff5b..5ab17ae63a 100755
--- a/bots/zephyr_mirror_backend.py
+++ b/bots/zephyr_mirror_backend.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Copyright (C) 2012 Zulip, Inc.
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
diff --git a/docs/html_unescape.py b/docs/html_unescape.py
index 281234530b..18d83d331d 100755
--- a/docs/html_unescape.py
+++ b/docs/html_unescape.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 
 # Remove HTML entity escaping left over from MediaWiki->rST conversion.
diff --git a/frontend_tests/casperjs/bin/casperjs b/frontend_tests/casperjs/bin/casperjs
index f04ca9e802..cb383372c1 100755
--- a/frontend_tests/casperjs/bin/casperjs
+++ b/frontend_tests/casperjs/bin/casperjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import json
diff --git a/frontend_tests/run-casper b/frontend_tests/run-casper
index cc7ec5b54e..8f409637bd 100755
--- a/frontend_tests/run-casper
+++ b/frontend_tests/run-casper
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import subprocess
 import requests
diff --git a/manage.py b/manage.py
index 81fdf7dcfc..3146a599f8 100755
--- a/manage.py
+++ b/manage.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import os
 import sys
 import logging
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_queue_worker_errors b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_queue_worker_errors
index eacef5b54d..821b1fdd26 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_queue_worker_errors
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_queue_worker_errors
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that none of our queue workers have reported errors.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_consumers b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_consumers
index 4143a527d4..0779273e25 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_consumers
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_consumers
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that the rabbitmq has the correct number of consumers.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_queues b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_queues
index 56baae8069..1af70c390c 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_queues
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_rabbitmq_queues
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that the rabbitmq queues are not overflowing as a result
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_send_receive_time b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_send_receive_time
index e6c12019d8..de03780924 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_send_receive_time
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_app_frontend/check_send_receive_time
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Script to provide information about send-receive times.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_nagios_server/check_postgres_replication_lag b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_nagios_server/check_postgres_replication_lag
index 8d755435bf..163523fa05 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_nagios_server/check_postgres_replication_lag
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_nagios_server/check_postgres_replication_lag
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check the difference between the primary and
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_appdb/check_fts_update_log b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_appdb/check_fts_update_log
index 906a001628..02bdfdc4f1 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_appdb/check_fts_update_log
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_appdb/check_fts_update_log
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check the length of the FTS update log.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_common/check_postgres_backup b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_common/check_postgres_backup
index 1c442ae317..59e445b008 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_common/check_postgres_backup
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_postgres_common/check_postgres_backup
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import dateutil.parser
diff --git a/puppet/zulip/files/postgresql/process_fts_updates b/puppet/zulip/files/postgresql/process_fts_updates
index 479c459e22..7943802052 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip/files/postgresql/process_fts_updates
+++ b/puppet/zulip/files/postgresql/process_fts_updates
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Processes updates to postgres Full Text Search for new/edited messages.
 #
 # Zulip manages its postgres full-text search as follows.  When the
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_personal_zephyr_mirrors b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_personal_zephyr_mirrors
index a532a13e8b..f2ef24fd2c 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_personal_zephyr_mirrors
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_personal_zephyr_mirrors
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that Zephyr personals mirrors are forwarding.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_user_zephyr_mirror_liveness b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_user_zephyr_mirror_liveness
index 32f74ce12e..bd5e35bf46 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_user_zephyr_mirror_liveness
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_user_zephyr_mirror_liveness
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that our MIT users' Zephyr mirrors are running.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_zephyr_mirror b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_zephyr_mirror
index f31863c3fb..268acbe891 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_zephyr_mirror
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/nagios_plugins/zulip_zephyr_mirror/check_zephyr_mirror
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Nagios plugin to check that Zephyr mirror forwarding is running.
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/postgresql/pg_backup_and_purge.py b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/postgresql/pg_backup_and_purge.py
index 21623660e7..4b884042fa 100644
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/postgresql/pg_backup_and_purge.py
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/postgresql/pg_backup_and_purge.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import subprocess
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.cgi b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.cgi
index e3df4e0d95..16825d6e95 100644
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.cgi
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.cgi
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2003-2009 Edgewall Software
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.fcgi b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.fcgi
index ad01b1ce40..178241ca07 100644
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.fcgi
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.fcgi
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2003-2009 Edgewall Software
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.wsgi b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.wsgi
index 408f6e0262..ab88e72676 100644
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.wsgi
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/trac/cgi-bin/trac.wsgi
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (C)2008-2009 Edgewall Software
diff --git a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/zulip-ec2-configure-interfaces b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/zulip-ec2-configure-interfaces
index 53b6fa47ce..6e33d675f1 100755
--- a/puppet/zulip_internal/files/zulip-ec2-configure-interfaces
+++ b/puppet/zulip_internal/files/zulip-ec2-configure-interfaces
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2013 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/scripts/get-django-setting b/scripts/get-django-setting
index fe945676bf..58eaecff6c 100755
--- a/scripts/get-django-setting
+++ b/scripts/get-django-setting
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import print_function
 
diff --git a/scripts/lib/log-management-command b/scripts/lib/log-management-command
index 574e603ccc..3296ad3f69 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/log-management-command
+++ b/scripts/lib/log-management-command
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import sys
 import logging
 import os
diff --git a/scripts/lib/unpack-zulip b/scripts/lib/unpack-zulip
index 824c5c7b2c..8a2c5ac777 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/unpack-zulip
+++ b/scripts/lib/unpack-zulip
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import sys
diff --git a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip
index d6665878d7..e6d3105752 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip
+++ b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import shutil
diff --git a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2 b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
index cf550826c9..19d3460e4e 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
+++ b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # This script contains the actual logic for upgrading from an old
 # version of Zulip to the new version.  upgrade-zulip-stage-2 is
diff --git a/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-consumers b/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-consumers
index c0fcd32d0b..bc28c4672b 100755
--- a/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-consumers
+++ b/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-consumers
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
diff --git a/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-queue b/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-queue
index 12373c5be6..ca2941c582 100755
--- a/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-queue
+++ b/scripts/nagios/check-rabbitmq-queue
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
diff --git a/scripts/nagios/cron_file_helper.py b/scripts/nagios/cron_file_helper.py
index 96713b4f68..3436bf8dbd 100644
--- a/scripts/nagios/cron_file_helper.py
+++ b/scripts/nagios/cron_file_helper.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import time
 
 def nagios_from_file(results_file):
diff --git a/scripts/purge-old-deployments b/scripts/purge-old-deployments
index 305d80673c..4b489933d4 100755
--- a/scripts/purge-old-deployments
+++ b/scripts/purge-old-deployments
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import sys
 import os
 import logging
diff --git a/scripts/restart-server b/scripts/restart-server
index a2e193bbf8..9eeddd784d 100755
--- a/scripts/restart-server
+++ b/scripts/restart-server
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import sys
diff --git a/scripts/setup/generate_secrets.py b/scripts/setup/generate_secrets.py
index acf7a0b044..a53d9029ac 100755
--- a/scripts/setup/generate_secrets.py
+++ b/scripts/setup/generate_secrets.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # This tools generates local_settings_generated.py using the template
 
 from __future__ import print_function
diff --git a/scripts/zulip-puppet-apply b/scripts/zulip-puppet-apply
index a09b240aa0..3e766f6a45 100755
--- a/scripts/zulip-puppet-apply
+++ b/scripts/zulip-puppet-apply
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import sys
 import subprocess
diff --git a/tools/clean-venv-cache b/tools/clean-venv-cache
index a0e9dac324..2396b23ac7 100755
--- a/tools/clean-venv-cache
+++ b/tools/clean-venv-cache
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import print_function
 import glob
diff --git a/tools/compile-handlebars-templates b/tools/compile-handlebars-templates
index 41a46ae2e3..ad4a8a93c1 100755
--- a/tools/compile-handlebars-templates
+++ b/tools/compile-handlebars-templates
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import print_function
 
diff --git a/tools/deprecated/finbot/money.py b/tools/deprecated/finbot/money.py
index 1246235be0..2b7b61f580 100755
--- a/tools/deprecated/finbot/money.py
+++ b/tools/deprecated/finbot/money.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import division
 from __future__ import print_function
 import datetime
diff --git a/tools/deprecated/generate-activity-metrics.py b/tools/deprecated/generate-activity-metrics.py
index 1693ef39eb..f1db378a64 100755
--- a/tools/deprecated/generate-activity-metrics.py
+++ b/tools/deprecated/generate-activity-metrics.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # Generates % delta activity metrics from graphite/statsd data
 #
diff --git a/tools/deprecated/iframe-bot/show-last-messages b/tools/deprecated/iframe-bot/show-last-messages
index 9adabd3c0c..2b0de8e47e 100755
--- a/tools/deprecated/iframe-bot/show-last-messages
+++ b/tools/deprecated/iframe-bot/show-last-messages
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2013 Zulip, Inc.
diff --git a/tools/deprecated/inject-messages/inject-messages b/tools/deprecated/inject-messages/inject-messages
index f9bc59e4af..14575836ac 100755
--- a/tools/deprecated/inject-messages/inject-messages
+++ b/tools/deprecated/inject-messages/inject-messages
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # This is tool for injecting messages during a usability study.  It's
 # likely useless for other applications.
diff --git a/tools/deprecated/review b/tools/deprecated/review
index d867817044..c464fba620 100755
--- a/tools/deprecated/review
+++ b/tools/deprecated/review
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2010 Ksplice, Inc.
diff --git a/tools/get-handlebar-vars b/tools/get-handlebar-vars
index 00fa08ff78..d7d428ed7b 100755
--- a/tools/get-handlebar-vars
+++ b/tools/get-handlebar-vars
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 import re
diff --git a/tools/minify-js b/tools/minify-js
index 39469cbfc3..7a2b7b1e2d 100755
--- a/tools/minify-js
+++ b/tools/minify-js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 # Minifies JavaScripts, creating source maps
 
diff --git a/tools/post-receive b/tools/post-receive
index 3307806e17..08b4c7b88b 100755
--- a/tools/post-receive
+++ b/tools/post-receive
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # Zulip's post-receive hook.  There is a symlink
 #   from /home/git/repositories/eng/zulip.git/hooks/post-receive
diff --git a/tools/print-all/print-all b/tools/print-all/print-all
index fa4ec237ef..5bac6853d9 100755
--- a/tools/print-all/print-all
+++ b/tools/print-all/print-all
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sh
 import os
diff --git a/tools/run-dev-queue-processors b/tools/run-dev-queue-processors
index 1add2ddd81..8df0c9fbc2 100755
--- a/tools/run-dev-queue-processors
+++ b/tools/run-dev-queue-processors
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 # This script is only meant to be run from run-dev.py, which sets up the
 # environment correctly and passes the correct arguments for manage.py.  It is a
diff --git a/tools/run-dev.py b/tools/run-dev.py
index cba1af1f6d..a55d8f6c70 100755
--- a/tools/run-dev.py
+++ b/tools/run-dev.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import optparse
 import subprocess
 import signal
diff --git a/tools/send_github_payloads.py b/tools/send_github_payloads.py
index 335acced2c..f889a5cfed 100755
--- a/tools/send_github_payloads.py
+++ b/tools/send_github_payloads.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 import sys
 import os
 import simplejson
diff --git a/tools/setup/emoji_dump/emoji_dump.py b/tools/setup/emoji_dump/emoji_dump.py
index 52dde1ee8d..ef08b5ee30 100755
--- a/tools/setup/emoji_dump/emoji_dump.py
+++ b/tools/setup/emoji_dump/emoji_dump.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import shutil
diff --git a/tools/setup/install-phantomjs b/tools/setup/install-phantomjs
index d07bc5add3..b062c1ce7f 100755
--- a/tools/setup/install-phantomjs
+++ b/tools/setup/install-phantomjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import sys
diff --git a/tools/show-profile-results.py b/tools/show-profile-results.py
index e4612de494..791db8a0ea 100755
--- a/tools/show-profile-results.py
+++ b/tools/show-profile-results.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 import pstats
diff --git a/tools/test-backend b/tools/test-backend
index 387bab17e7..952053d4e2 100755
--- a/tools/test-backend
+++ b/tools/test-backend
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import optparse
diff --git a/tools/test_user_agent_parsing.py b/tools/test_user_agent_parsing.py
index 78aa1c5acd..4693247906 100755
--- a/tools/test_user_agent_parsing.py
+++ b/tools/test_user_agent_parsing.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import re
 from collections import defaultdict
diff --git a/tools/update-deployment b/tools/update-deployment
index a9f5450f2b..fc9f50d10d 100755
--- a/tools/update-deployment
+++ b/tools/update-deployment
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 import sys
diff --git a/tools/update-prod-static b/tools/update-prod-static
index cdd0019711..4b7204a337 100755
--- a/tools/update-prod-static
+++ b/tools/update-prod-static
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 # Updates static files for production.
 
diff --git a/tools/zulip-export/zulip-export b/tools/zulip-export/zulip-export
index fc2267988c..ea5ee32072 100755
--- a/tools/zulip-export/zulip-export
+++ b/tools/zulip-export/zulip-export
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Copyright © 2014 Dropbox, Inc.
diff --git a/zerver/lib/bugdown/fenced_code.py b/zerver/lib/bugdown/fenced_code.py
index f8bae58e73..5d94674a47 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/bugdown/fenced_code.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/bugdown/fenced_code.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Fenced Code Extension for Python Markdown
diff --git a/zerver/lib/ccache.py b/zerver/lib/ccache.py
index 850e88a825..4d45b6fc92 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/ccache.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/ccache.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # This file is adapted from samples/shellinabox/ssh-krb-wrapper in
 # https://github.com/davidben/webathena, which has the following
 # license:
diff --git a/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py b/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
index d73da07e55..a66474bcd2 100755
--- a/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
+++ b/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Deliver email messages that have been queued by various things
diff --git a/zerver/management/commands/email-mirror.py b/zerver/management/commands/email-mirror.py
index 2e5f0badcf..f02e08f448 100755
--- a/zerver/management/commands/email-mirror.py
+++ b/zerver/management/commands/email-mirror.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Forward messages sent to the configured email gateway to Zulip.
diff --git a/zerver/management/commands/print_email_delivery_backlog.py b/zerver/management/commands/print_email_delivery_backlog.py
index 845d707974..ecd612d57e 100755
--- a/zerver/management/commands/print_email_delivery_backlog.py
+++ b/zerver/management/commands/print_email_delivery_backlog.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 
 """
 Shows backlog count of ScheduledJobs of type Email
diff --git a/zulip_tools.py b/zulip_tools.py
index fba6cf5d43..088f8d4b89 100755
--- a/zulip_tools.py
+++ b/zulip_tools.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
 import datetime
 import errno