Installing Python

Installing the Python language on a Windows or Mac computer is not difficult. If you have your own computer, you will find that using it to do your programming assignments will simplify your life.

Here is the main Web page about Python.

Installing Python for Windows

To install Python, go to the official Python download page, and select the right installer for your system.

Most Windows machines will use the "Python 2.5.2 Windows installer". Clicking this will put an installer icon on your Desktop.

Click on the installer icon, and then just keep clicking "Next" to accept the standard installtion options, and finally "Finish".

Note: For Windows Vista, you may instead have to right-click on the installer icon, and then select "Install as Administrator". We will investigate this issue further.

When you are done, if you left-click on the Start menu at the bottom-left of your screen, and then "All Programs", you should see "Python 2.5" in the list of programs you can run. Click on it, and then select "IDLE- Python Interpreter" to get started!

Installing Python on a Mac

Here are some instructions from python.org

PyScripter

The PyScripter program is a much fancier program for writing and looking at Python programs than IDLE. We have been using it in class to watch programs running step by step. It is available for free from MMM-experts.