Installing Python

Installation

Linux and MacOS

On Linux and MacOS systems, Python should already be installed.

You can verify this using the method in the 'Checking installation' chapter.

If installed, you can skip to the 'Project setup' chapter.

Installing on Linux

If not installed, simply use your package manager to install 'python3'.

Arch

On Arch-based distros (e.g. Manjaro), run the following command:

sudo pacman -Sy python3

Debian

On Debian-based distros (such as Ubuntu), type:

sudo apt install python3

Installing on Windows

On Windows, navigate to the Python website (python.org) and install the latest stable build.

Scroll to the bottom of this page and find 'Windows installer (64-bit)'.

Open the .exe file and go through the installation process.

Note: Make sure to 'add Python to system PATH'. This allows us to use Python through the terminal.

Checking installation

Terminal setup

Once you have installed Python, open a system terminal.

On Linux and MacOS, this is called the 'terminal'.

On Windows, this is called the 'command prompt' or 'powershell'.

Checking Python version

Now we need to run a command to check if Python is installed.

The result should be the name of the Python version you installed, printed to the screen.

Linux or MacOS

On Linux or MacOS, type the following command to check if Python is installed:

python3 --version

Windows

On Windows, type this command into the command prompt:

py --version

Checking Python install

If this returns a Python version, such as below, you have successfully installed Python:

> python3 --version
  Python 3.11.3

However, if this returns an error, like below, try reinstalling Python:

> python3 --version
  zsh: command not found: python3

Project setup

In this chapter, we will set up the project structure, and the files we will be using.

Creating a folder

Firstly, create a new folder for the project.

In this course, we will create the 'learnpython' folder in the '/home/yourname/coding' folder.

You can create this folder through a file manager, or through the terminal.

Linux or MacOS command line

On Unix (Linux or MacOS), type the following commands.

First, navigate to your documents folder:

cd ~/Documents

If you haven't already, create a coding folder for all your projects:

mkdir coding

Finally, create our project folder:

mkdir learnpython

Windows command line

On Windows, first navigate to the parent directory:

cd C:/Users/yourname/Documents

If you don't already have one, create a programming folder:

md coding

Finally, create the 'learnpython' folder:

md learnpython

Creating a Python file

Now we need to create a Python file.

There are a few ways to do this, such as:

• Using a text editor
• Using the command line

Text editor

To create a new Python file, open a text editor, such as VS Code, and save the file.

Save the file with the '.py' extension.

For example, the file could be called 'hello.py'.

Save this file in your 'learnpython' directory.

Command line

You can also use the command line to create a Python file.

If you are not still in your project folder, navigate to it using the 'cd' command.

Then type the following:

. > hello.py

Replacing hello with the name of your file you want to create.

Python course

This lesson is part of the Python course.

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