Summary

This document is meant to be a brief outline of how to get your own version of Python up and running. After reading this document, you should be able to access the Python interactive interpreter from a computer of your choice.

Introduction

Python is an interpreted language. To use Python, the interpreter must be installed on your computer. Python is already available on some systems to which you might have access. For other systems, I will explain how to install Python.

Choose how you'd like to use Python based on the operating system you use the most. If one of the methods below fails, you should always be able to access Python with your UTCS UNIX account.

Python on Windows

  1. Go to the python.org download page.
  2. Select and download the Windows installer that is appropriate for your computer. If you're not sure which one is right for you, download the "Python 2.5.1 Windows installer".
  3. Open the downloaded file to install Python on your machine.
  4. I also recommend downloading and installing the Windows extensions. These extensions contain a Windows-based IDE and some extra tools for using Python with Windows applications. Be sure to get version pywin32-210.win32-py2.5.exe.
  5. Python2.5 is now located in your Programs. To start an interactive interpreter, open IDLE (if you did not install the Windows extensions) or PythonWin (if you did install the Windows extensions).

Python on Mac

Check your version of OS X, then follow the directions below. To check your OS X version, click the Apple icon in the menu bar, then select "About this Mac...". The window will say "Mac OS X", followed by the version number.

If your OS X version is less than 10.3.9 :

  1. Download, open, and install the pre-installer. This installer configures your Mac's graphical environment to use Python.
  2. Follow the steps for <10.5 and 10.5, below, to install and run Python.

If your OS X version is at least 10.3.9, but less than 10.5 or if you have followed the steps above:

  1. Download, open, and install the Python installer.
  2. Follow the steps for 10.5, below to run Python.

If your OS X version is 10.5 (Leopard) or if you have followed the step above, then you already have Python 2.5.1. To access the interactive interpreter:

  1. Open a Finder window.
  2. Browse to Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. Double-click Terminal, and a Terminal window should open.
  3. Type: python

Python on your UTCS UNIX account

  1. Use your UTCS login to log on to one of the department's public Linux machines. You can access these machines either by going to the lab or by using SSH. More information about accessing these machines is available here. You can always e-mail me if you have questions, or come to office hours. Be sure to access a Linux machine and not a Sun machine.
  2. At the command prompt, type: /lusr/bin/python2.5