Installing Python
Since am a member of open source community, let me first show you how to install Python in your Linux/Ubuntu then will move on to Windows.
Linux:
If you are using a Linux distribution such as Fedora or Mandrake or {put your choice here}, or a BSD system such as FreeBSD, then you probably already have Python installed on your system.
To test if you have Python already installed on your Linux box, open a shell program (like konsole or gnome-terminal) and enter the command python -V as shown below.
thor@goopta:~$ python Python 2.7.3 (default, Apr 20 2012, 22:44:07) [GCC 4.6.3] on linux2 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>>
Note
$ is the prompt of the shell. It will be different for you depending on the settings of your OS, hence I will indicate the prompt by just the $ symbol.
If you see some version information like the one shown above, then you have Python installed already.
However, if you get a message like this one:
$ python -V bash: python: command not found
then, you don’t have Python installed. This is highly unlikely but possible.
In this case, you have two ways of installing Python on your system.
- Install the binary packages using the package management software that comes with your OS, such as yum in Fedora Linux, urpmi in Mandrake Linux, apt-get in Debian Linux, pkg_add in FreeBSD, etc. Note that you will need an internet connection to use this method.Alternatively, you can download the binaries from somewhere else and then copy to your PC and install it.
- You can compile Python from the source code and install it. The compilation instructions are provided at the website.
For example in Ubuntu or Debian system you can install it by typing following in terminal:
$ sudo apt-get install python
this will install python in your system. Later on type “python” in your terminal to enter into the python interface. I guess by default prompt will be “>>>”.
Windows:
In windows, visit http://www.python.org/download, below figure shows which link to access.
A pop-up will come, then install the python.
You can access the Python interface by going Start→python→IDE(python GUI). Using this Python interface will come to your screen.
Checking:
You can check whether it is installed properly by entering(same in all OS):
>>>print “working..”
this will print
working…
on your screen.Or we can perform arithmetic operations like 9+4 which will give result 13 on your screen.
>>>9+4 13
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Thus, You have installed Python on your system.
