Last Modified 3-10-2010

IUSB

Python Installation

The first thing you will need to do, to start programming in Python is to install it on your machine. Python works on all major operating systems: i.e. Windows, Linux, Mac, ... It will probably work on your system as well. Unlike other programming languages like Visual Basic or C, a Python program which runs on your machine will run unchanged on any other machine with the Python programming environment installed. Since Linux and Mac computers have Python as part of the installation package, once you have Python installed on your Windows machine, you can join the Python programming community as well.

I am running Firefox as it allows my computrer to work faster than Internet Explorer, perhaps because it lacks the direct link to Microsoft, and is more convenient for many of the functions. The diagrams use the Firefox browser, which can be started by selecting the Firefox link on your desktop.

Here are the steps to install Python on a Windows machine:

• Resize your windows so you can see this window and the install window at the same time.


• Depending on how your browser's Tools==>options==>Tabs are set up you will either get a second window or a New Tab when you click the following link to open a new window to: Download Python. Below is a diagram of what the page should look like: (links are not active in the diagram).



Figure Install-1: Python Windows Installer



• When you select the package you would like to download the following popup message should display:



Figure Install-2: MSI Installer Prompt



• Select Save File.


• When the file has been saved to your Downloads folder. The downloads message box should display:



Figure Install-3: Firefox Downloads Folder



• Double-Clicking on the Python Downloads program may give you the following warning message:



Figure Install-4: Open Executable Warning Message



• Python was invented by Python was developed by Guido van Rossum in the late eighties and early nineties at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in the Netherlands. I think the "open source community" Google/Linux/Apache applications are from the "Good Guys", so I am inclined to trust what they have made available. However, I would leave the Don't ask me this again box unchecked, as I like to know when somebody is trying to install something on my computer. In order to go further, you will need to press the OK button. The following popup may appear:



Figure Install-5: Firefox Security Warning



• Again, I believe the Python Sofware Foundation that maintains the Python language and makes it available to us at no charge, are the "Good Guys", so I would press the Run button.


• The next popup displayed will probably be similar to the following:



Figure Install-6: First Installer Message



• Which option you select is up to you. I am really the only user on my machine, so whether or not it is available to other users is irrelevant, and I see no reason, if there ever were other users, why they couldn't use Python as well, so I'll leave the default option alone. And, if you don't know either, I would just go with the default, select Next and move on.


• The next screen asks for the Destination Directory.



Figure Install-7: Select Destination Directory



• Coming off of the Root Directory is okay with me, so I am going to leave that one alone also. If you don't like it there, you can put it someplace else. After you have selected your destination location press Next to see what else they want you to do.


• The next screen allows you to customize Python.



Figure Install-8: Customize Python Install



• It is not necessary to consider these options for intro users. On a modern computer, the amount of memory required by the Python package is insignificant, so I am going to leave that option alone also. The default selection gives a full install. If, after you have been working with Python for some time, and you know that you want the install to behave differently, you can always uninstall/reinstall or install the latest and greatest version of Python instead. Press Next to continue.


• The installer splash screen will display on your screen as indicated in the diagram below:



Figure Install-9: Installer Status Screen



• While the installer is configuring your computer to work with Python, there really is not a whole bunch for you to do, except watch the Progress Indicator flash on your screen. It shouldn't take but a minute or two anyways, and it's a whole lot easier than doing it yourself, so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the mesmerizing status bar.


• When the installer completes you will see the following screen displayed:



Figure Install-10: Installer Finish



• The Finish Screen is usually a very good sign. I would just like to take a moment to send my appreciation to Mr. Hammond also, as that was one easy Installation. The Windows interface makes working with Python an enjoyable experience as well. Job well Done!!


• Let's click the Finish button, and see what happens...


• Hmmm, looks like the installer just disappeared. I wonder what we are supposed to do now???


• Let's try the Start button and see if it is there:



Figure Install-10: Start Python IDLE GUI



• Yup, thar it is. If you decide to start up the GUI, you can either try to figure it out on your own, or we'll try to expedite the process for you. Click the Python Fundamentals link to start your adventure into Python programming.