Python Installation

• Yes, Python is an interpreted language, and that means that Python code is executed line by line by an interpreter rather than being compiled into machine code beforehand.

Python Interpreter Installation

The Python installation process can vary slightly depending on your operating system. Here's a general guide for the most common operating systems:

Windows:

1. Python Installer: Visit the official Python website, then choose the version of Python you want to install (usually the latest stable version), and download the Windows installer.

2. Run Installer: Once the installer is downloaded, double-click it to run. Make sure to check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" during the installation process. This will make it easier to run Python from the command line.

3. Installation: Follow the instructions provided by the installer. The default settings should be fine for most users.

4. Verify Installation: Open Command Prompt and type 'python --version' to verify that Python is installed correctly.

python --version

⤏ The version number of the Python interpreter you installed.

macOS:

1. Python Installer: It's similar like windows, just visit the official Python website, then choose the version of Python you want to install, and download the macOS installer.

2. Installation: Once the installer is downloaded, double-click it to run, and follow the instructions provided by the installer.

3. Verify Installation: Open Command Prompt and type the following command to verify that Python is installed correctly.

python3 --version

⤏ Since Python 2 has reached its end-of-life and is no longer actively maintained, it's generally recommended to use Python 3 for new projects and development.

⤏ To make sure you're using Python 3 explicitly, you use the python3 command.

Linux:

1. Package Installation: Many Linux distributions come with Python pre-installed. You can use the package manager specific to your distribution to install Python. For example, on Ubuntu, you can use 'apt-get':

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3

Or,

1. Download Installer: If Python is not available through your package manager or if you want a specific version, you can download the installer from the official Python website.

2. Run Installer: Once the installer is downloaded, you can install Python using the terminal. Navigate to the directory where the installer is located and run:

tar -xvf Python-3.x.x.tgz
cd Python-3.x.x
./configure
make
sudo make install

3. Verify Installation: Open Terminal and type provided command to verify that Python is installed correctly.

python3 --version

• After installing Python, you can start writing and running Python code using your preferred code editor or IDE.

Python IDE

Recommended: Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a lightweight but powerful code editor developed by Microsoft, and it has excellent support for Python through extensions.

Setting up Python development in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Install VS Code: If you haven't already installed Visual Studio Code, you can download it from the official website: Visual Studio Code.

2. Install Extensions: Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions view by clicking on the square icon on the sidebar or pressing 'Ctrl+Shift+X' (Windows/Linux) or 'Cmd+Shift+X' (macOS). After that Search for "Python" in the Extensions view, and install the official Python extension by Microsoft and Code Runner to execute the code.

3. Start Coding: You're now ready to start coding in Python using Visual Studio Code! You'll have access to features like IntelliSense, code formatting, debugging, and more.

Environments Setups (Optional):

1. Virtual Environments: It's recommended to use virtual environments for Python projects to manage dependencies and isolate project environments. You can create a virtual environment using the integrated terminal in VS Code. Open the terminal and run:

python -m venv env

⤏ This command creates a virtual environment named "env" in your project directory.

2. Virtual Environment: After creating the virtual environment, you need to activate it. In the terminal, run:

• On Windows:

.\env\Scripts\activate

• On macOS/Linux:

source env/bin/activate

⤏ You should see '(env)' indicating that the virtual environment is active.

3. Install Packages: With the virtual environment activated, you can install Python packages using pip. For example:

pip install package_name

That's it! With these steps, you'll have a complete Python development environment set up and ready to go in Visual Studio Code.