Installing Python for beginnersPython is a popular programming language that is widely used for a variety of purposes, including web development, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. In order to start using Python, you will need to install it on your computer.

There are two main ways to install Python:

Install a pre-built binary package: Many operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, provide pre-built binary packages of Python that can be easily installed. These packages include everything you need to start using Python, including the Python interpreter, the standard library, and the package manager pip.

Build Python from source: If you want to customize your Python installation or need a version that is not provided by your operating system, you can build Python from source code. This requires a C compiler and other development tools, but allows you to configure and build Python exactly as you want it.

Installing Python on Windows

  1. Go to the Python downloads page.
  2. Click the Download button for the latest version of Python 3 (currently Python 3.10).
  3. When the download is complete, run the downloaded installer file.
  4. Follow the prompts to install Python. By default, the installer will install Python in the C:\Program Files\PythonXX directory (where XX is the version number), and it will add the Python installation directory to your system’s PATH environment variable.
  5. Once the installation is complete, open a command prompt and type python to launch the Python interpreter. You should see the Python prompt, which looks like >>>.

Installing Python on MacOS

  1. Go to the Python downloads page.
  2. Click the Download button for the latest version of Python 3 (currently Python 3.10).
  3. When the download is complete, open the downloaded installer package (it will be called python-3.XX.pkg, where XX is the version number).
  4. Follow the prompts to install Python. By default, the installer will install Python in the /Applications/Python 3.XX directory (where XX is the version number).
  5. Once the installation is complete, open a terminal window and type python3 to launch the Python interpreter. You should see the Python prompt, which looks like >>>.

Installing Python on Linux

  1. Open a terminal window.
  2. Most Linux distributions come with Python pre-installed, so you can check if Python is already installed by typing python3 -V. If Python is installed and in your system’s PATH, this command will print the version number.
  3. If Python is not installed, you can install it by using your system’s package manager. For example, on Debian-based systems (such as Ubuntu), you can use apt-get:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install python3

On Red Hat-based systems (such as Fedora or CentOS), you can use yum:

$ sudo yum update
$ sudo yum install python3
  1. Once the installation is complete, type python3 to launch the Python interpreter. You should see the Python prompt, which looks like >>>.

 

Program code on computer display in magnifying glass. Close-up

Program code on computer display in magnifying glass. Close-up

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On January 4, 2023   /   Tutorial  
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