Installing Packages¶. This section covers the basics of how to install Python packages. It’s important to note that the term “package” in this context is being used as a synonym for a distribution (i.e. A bundle of software to be installed), not to refer to the kind of package that you import in your Python source code (i.e. A container of modules). If in case you have clicked no during conda installation when it asked if it should be added to path or you just can't access it on your terminal for any other reason. Run this conda update anaconda-navigator in your terminal. But most likely it won't work because you don't have access of conda in your shell. What you have to do is run one at time the following steps in your terminal.
Contents
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- Install a text editor
- Step 2 – “Hello World” in Python
Back up your computer
Mac users can take advantage of the Time Machine for this.
Install Python v.3
You may already have Python 2 installed on your machine. This version of Python will be deprecated at the end of 2019, so you will have to install Python 3. Download the lateststable release of the Python programming language (Version 3.8 as ofNovember 2019) and install it by following the instructions on the Pythonwebsite.
Create a Directory
To stay organized, it’s best to have a dedicated directory (folder) onyour computer where you will keep your Python programs (e.g.,
programming-historian
). Save it anywhere you like on your harddrive.Python On Mac
Install a text editor
There are many text editors that you can use to write, store, and run Python commands. Komodo Edit is the one used in this lesson. It is a free and open source code editor. If you prefer to useanother editor, there are many other text editing options. Some of ourtesters prefer a program called TextWrangler. Which you use is up toyou, but for the sake of consistency in our lessons, we will be usingKomodo Edit. You can download a copy of Komodo Edit from the KomodoEdit website. Install it from the
.DMG
fileMake a “Run Python” Command in Komodo Edit
Now you need to set up the editor so that you can run Pythonprograms.
If you don’t see the Toolbox pane on the right hand side, choose
View->Tabs & Sidebars ->Toolbox
. In the Toolbox window, click on the gear icon and select“New Command…
“. This will open a new dialog window. Rename yourcommand to “Run Python
” and feel free to change the icon if youlike. In the “Command
” box, typeand on the Advanced Options tab under “Start in,” enter
Click OK. Your new Run Python command should appear in the Toolboxpane.
Step 2 – “Hello World” in Python
It is traditional to begin programming in a new language by trying tocreate a program that says ‘hello world’ and terminates. We will showyou how to do this in Python and HTML.
Python is a good programming language for beginners because it is veryhigh-level. It is possible, in other words, to write short programs thataccomplish a lot. The shorter the program, the more likely it is for thewhole thing to fit on one screen, and the easier it is to keep track ofall of it in your mind.
Python is an ‘interpreted’ programming language. This means thatthere is a special computer program (known as an interpreter) that knowshow to follow instructions written in that language. One way to use theinterpreter is to store all of your instructions in a file, and then runthe interpreter on the file. A file that contains programming languageinstructions is known as a program. The interpreter will execute each ofthe instructions that you gave it in your program and then stop. Let’stry this.
In your text editor, create a new file, enter the following two-lineprogram and save it to your
programming-historian
directory ashello-world.py
Your chosen text editor should have a “
Run
” button that will allow youto execute your program. If you are using TextWrangler, click on the“#!” button and Run. If all went well, it should look something likethis:“Hello World” in Python on a Mac
Interacting with a Python shell
Another way to interact with an interpreter is to use what is known as ashell. You can type in a statement and press the Enter key, and theshell will respond to your command. Using a shell is a great way to teststatements to make sure that they do what you think they should. This isdone slightly differently on Mac, Linux and Windows.
You can run a Python shell by launching the ‘terminal’. On the Mac, openthe Finder and double-click on
Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
then typing “python3
” into the window that opens on your screen. At thePython shell prompt, typeand press Enter. The computer will respond with
When we want to represent an interaction with the shell, we will use
->
to indicate the shell’s response to your command, as shown below:Python Shell Download Mac Iso
On your screen, it will look more like this:
![Python Shell Download Mac Python Shell Download Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/6/133685491/642948343.png)
Python Shell in Mac Terminal
Python 3 Download Mac
Now that you and your computer are up and running, we can move onto somemore interesting tasks. If you are working through the Python lessons inorder, we suggest you next try ‘Understanding Web Pages and HTML.’