Installing Python and setting up the environment

Introduction

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and readability. In this chapter, we’ll go through the steps needed to install Python and set up your programming environment.

Installation

Windows

1. Visit the official Python website at www.python.org
2. Navigate to the Downloads section and click on the button to download the latest version of Python
3. Run the downloaded installer file
4. In the installer, check the box that says ‘Add Python to PATH’, then click ‘Install Now’

macOS

1. Python comes preinstalled on macOS, but you may want to install a newer version
2. If so, it is recommended to use a package manager like Homebrew. First, install Homebrew by following the instructions at brew.sh
3. Once Homebrew is installed, open Terminal and type ‘brew install python’

Linux

1. Most Linux distributions come with Python preinstalled, but you may want to install a newer version
2. For Ubuntu, you can use the following commands in Terminal:
   • ‘sudo apt-get update’
   • ‘sudo apt-get install python3’

Setting up your environment

Now that Python is installed, you’ll want to set up an integrated development environment (IDE) to write and run your code. There are many IDEs to choose from, but for beginners, we recommend starting with a simple text editor like Sublime Text, or an IDE like PyCharm.

Conclusion

Congratulations on installing Python and setting up your programming environment! In the next chapter, we’ll delve into writing and running our first Python program.