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Comment: Make it clear that people should install py3 and not use py2 system python
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← Revision 116 as of 2022-11-04 18:41:16 ⇥
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| Before you start, you will need Python on your computer. | |
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| Check whether you already have an up to date version of Python installed by entering `python` in a command line window. If you see a response from a Python interpreter it will include a version number in its initial display. Generally any Python 3.x version will do, as Python makes every attempt to maintain backwards compatibility within major Python versions. Python 2.x and Python 3.x are intentionally not fully compatible. If `python` starts a Python 2.x interpreter, try entering `python3` and see if an up to date version is already installed. | On many systems Python comes pre-installed, you can try running the `python` command to start the Python interpreter to check and see if it is already installed. On windows you can try the `py` command which is a launcher which is more likely to work. If it is installed you will see a response which will include the version number, for example: |
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| On Windows, try `py` first - this is the relatively recent Python Launcher, which has a better chance of avoiding some of the path problems that might occur because on Windows programs don't install into any of the small set of common locations that are searched by default. The Python launcher can also let you select any of the various versions you may have installed from a single command. | {{{ Python 3.9.6 (tags/v3.9.6:db3ff76, Jun 28 2021, 15:26:21) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. }}} |
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| If you need to install Python, you may as well download the most recent stable version. This is the one with the highest number that isn't marked as an alpha or beta release. Please see the [[http://www.python.org/downloads/|Python downloads]] page for the most up to date versions of Python. They are available via the yellow download buttons on that page. | If you don't see this, you will need to install Python on your system. If the version number is Python 2.x.y (where `x` and `y` are any number) you are using Python 2 which is no longer supported and is not a good choice for development. You can try running `python3` to see if there is also a Python 3.x.y version installed, if not you'll want to install the latest version of Python. If you do not have Python installed or need a newer version you can go to: https://www.python.org/downloads/ which will provide a button to download an installer for your particular system. The Python documentation also has a detailed guide on how to install and setup Python here: https://docs.python.org/3/using/index.html Below are some system specific notes to keep in mind. |
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| The most stable Windows downloads are available from the [[https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/|Python for Windows]] page. On Windows you have a choice between 32-bit (labeled '''x86''') and and 64-bit (labeled '''x86-64''') versions, and several flavors of installer for each. The Python core team thinks there should be a default you don't have to stop and think about, so the yellow download button on the main download page gets you the "x86 executable installer" choice. This is actually a fine choice: you don't ''need'' the 64-bit version even if you have 64-bit Windows, the 32-bit Python will work just fine. | |
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| '''If you're running Windows XP''': a complete guide to installing ActivePython is at [[http://www.richarddooling.com/index.php/2006/03/14/python-on-xp-7-minutes-to-hello-world/|Python on XP: 7 Minutes To "Hello World!"]]. ShowMeDo has [[http://showmedo.com/videos/series?name=pythonOzsvaldPyNewbieSeries|two videos]] for downloading, installing and getting started with Python on a Windows XP machine - this series talks you through the Python, ActivePython and SciPy distributions. Note that the python.org releases only support versions of Windows that are supported by Microsoft (at the time of the release), so no recent release from python.org can be used on WIndows XP. | On Windows the most stable build is available from the official download page https://www.python.org/downloads/ You should download and run the installer from that page to get the latest version of Python for your system. You can refer to the Python documentation for more details on the installation process and getting started: https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html |
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| See the [[https://www.python.org/downloads/mac-osx/|Python for Mac OS X]] page. MacOS from 10.2 (Jaguar) to 10.5 (Catalina) includes a system version of Python 2, but it is best not to consider this the Python to use for your programming tasks - install a current Python 3.x version instead. MacOS after 10.15 (Catalina) will not include a default system Python. | For macOS 10.9 (Jaguar) up until 12.3 (Catalina) the operating system includes Python 2, which is no longer supported and is not a good choice for development. You should go to do the downloads page: https://www.python.org/downloads/ and download the installer. For newer versions of macOS, Python is no longer included by default and you will have to download and install it. You can refer to the Python documentation for more details on the installation process and getting started: https://docs.python.org/3/using/mac.html |
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| '''For Red Hat, CentOS or Fedora''', install the python3 and python3-devel packages. | |
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| '''For Debian or Ubuntu''', install the python3.x and python3.x-dev packages. | On most Linux distributions Python comes pre-installed and/or available via the distribution's package managers. Below are some common examples, but refer to your specific distribution's documentation and package list to get the most up to date instructions. |
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| '''For Gentoo''', install the '=python-3.x*' ebuild (you may have to unmask it first). | If you'd like to download and build Python from source (or your distribution's package manager does not include a version of Python you need) you can download a source tarball from the general download page: https://www.python.org/downloads/ |
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| '''For other systems''', or '''if you want to install from source''', see the [[http://www.python.org/download/|general download page]]. | ==== Red Hat, CentOS, or Fedora ==== {{{ dnf install python3 python3-devel }}} ==== Debian or Ubuntu ==== {{{ apt-get install python3 python3-dev }}} ==== Gentoo ==== {{{ emerge dev-lang/python }}} ==== Arch Linux ==== {{{ pacman -S python3 }}} |
Downloading Python
On many systems Python comes pre-installed, you can try running the python command to start the Python interpreter to check and see if it is already installed. On windows you can try the py command which is a launcher which is more likely to work. If it is installed you will see a response which will include the version number, for example:
Python 3.9.6 (tags/v3.9.6:db3ff76, Jun 28 2021, 15:26:21) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
If you don't see this, you will need to install Python on your system.
If the version number is Python 2.x.y (where x and y are any number) you are using Python 2 which is no longer supported and is not a good choice for development. You can try running python3 to see if there is also a Python 3.x.y version installed, if not you'll want to install the latest version of Python.
If you do not have Python installed or need a newer version you can go to:
https://www.python.org/downloads/
which will provide a button to download an installer for your particular system. The Python documentation also has a detailed guide on how to install and setup Python here:
https://docs.python.org/3/using/index.html
Below are some system specific notes to keep in mind.
Windows
On Windows the most stable build is available from the official download page
https://www.python.org/downloads/
You should download and run the installer from that page to get the latest version of Python for your system. You can refer to the Python documentation for more details on the installation process and getting started:
https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html
Mac
For macOS 10.9 (Jaguar) up until 12.3 (Catalina) the operating system includes Python 2, which is no longer supported and is not a good choice for development. You should go to do the downloads page: https://www.python.org/downloads/ and download the installer.
For newer versions of macOS, Python is no longer included by default and you will have to download and install it. You can refer to the Python documentation for more details on the installation process and getting started:
https://docs.python.org/3/using/mac.html
Linux
On most Linux distributions Python comes pre-installed and/or available via the distribution's package managers. Below are some common examples, but refer to your specific distribution's documentation and package list to get the most up to date instructions.
If you'd like to download and build Python from source (or your distribution's package manager does not include a version of Python you need) you can download a source tarball from the general download page: https://www.python.org/downloads/
Red Hat, CentOS, or Fedora
dnf install python3 python3-devel
Debian or Ubuntu
apt-get install python3 python3-dev
Gentoo
emerge dev-lang/python
Arch Linux
pacman -S python3