Downloading Python

Before you start, you need Python on your computer, and you'll probably need to download it. If you're learning Python for the first time, you should download the most recent stable version. This is the one with the highest number that isn't marked as an alpha or beta release. Currently the stable version is [http://www.python.org/2.4.2/ Python 2.4.2].

If you're running Windows: here's a page with the most stable Windows download: [http://www.python.org/2.4.2/ Python 2.4 for Windows].

If you are using a Mac, see the [http://homepages.cwi.nl/~jack/macpython/index.html MacPython page]. MacOS 10.2 (Jaguar), 10.3 (Panther) and 10.4 (Tiger) come with Python already installed.

If you're using Linux, Python is probably packaged for your distribution.

• In Ubuntu and Mandrake, python is already installed
• For Red Hat, install the python2 and python2-devel packages.
• For Debian, install the python2.4 and python2.4-dev packages.

For other systems, see the [http://www.python.org/download/ general download page]..