Introduction to and setup of Python: Difference between revisions

wikademia>Jade Knight
m →Why to learn Python: grammar; section still very informal
wikademia>ArrowStomper
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Before you start, you need Python on your computer, but you may not need to download it. First of all check (by entering python in a command line window) that you don't already have Python installed! If you see a response from a Python interpreter it will include a version number in its inital display. Generally any recent version will do, as Python makes every attempt to maintain backwards compatibility.
Before you start, you need Python on your computer, but you may not need to download it. First of all check (by entering python in a command line window) that you don't already have Python installed! If you see a response from a Python interpreter it will include a version number in its inital display. Generally any recent version will do, as Python makes every attempt to maintain backwards compatibility.


If you need to install, you may as well download the most recent stable version. This is the one with the highest number that isn't marked as an alpha or beta release. Currently the stable version is [WWW] Python 2.5.
If you need to install, you may as well download the most recent stable version. This is the one with the highest number that isn't marked as an alpha or beta release. Currently the stable version is Python 2.5.


If you're running Windows: the most stable Windows download is [WWW] Python 2.5 for Windows.
If you're running Windows: the most stable Windows download is Python 2.5 for Windows.


If you're running Windows XP: a complete guide to installing ActivePython is at [WWW] Python on XP: 7 Minutes To "Hello World!". ShowMeDo has [WWW] three videos for downloading, installing and testing Python (v2.4.2) on a Windows XP machine, though the 'downloading' video refers to an earlier version of the python.org website.
If you're running Windows XP: a complete guide to installing ActivePython is at http://www.richarddooling.com/index.php/category/geekophilia/ just ctrl f and type python, it'll take you right there.


If you are using a Mac, see [WWW] this page. MacOS 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther) and 10.4 (Tiger) come with Python already, but you will probably want to install the [WWW] latest universal build.
If you are using a Mac, see http://www.python.org/download/mac/. MacOS 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther) and 10.4 (Tiger) come with Python already, but you will probably want to install the  


For Red Hat, install the python2 and python2-devel packages.
For Red Hat, install the python2 and python2-devel packages.
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For Debian, install the python2.5 and python2.5-dev packages.  
For Debian, install the python2.5 and python2.5-dev packages.  


For Ubuntu, goto synaptic package manager -> Python programs -> install whichever one that you want, or all of them if you have the space on your harddrive.
http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download
http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download