Installing and Using Anaconda Python
Anaconda
Python is a collection of a number of very useful Python development packages
as well as an interpreter. We will use the Idle editor
to build and run Python programs. Idle is included as part of the Anaconda
Python installation.
For personal use on a laptop or
desktop computer:
You can download
Anaconda Python here and follow the instructions (click the windows, mac,
or linux icon as appropriate). Note for Windows
users: you have the option to download a 32 or 64 bit version�most modern
laptops or desktops can safely use the 64-bit version. Mac users only have the
64 bit option.
Using Anaconda Python
After installing Anaconda Python, you will be able to use it
as follows:
On a PC
Click Start�All
Programs�Anaconda (64-bit)�Anaconda Command Prompt.� A command prompt window will open. Type idle to run the Python interpreter. A new window titled Python
Shell will open and you will see the Python >>> command prompt.
On a Mac
Open terminal. If you�ve never done that before,
the easiest way to start it is to use Spotlight Search. Type command-Space, enter terminal in the text box, and then select Terminal�Utilities. When the terminal window pops up, type idle. The interpreter will start and you will see the Python >>> command prompt.
Check your version�if on startup you see Python 2.x.x, then
you are running an older version. Type quit() at the >>> prompt and then type idle3 at the terminal command prompt. Now you should now see
Python 3.6.x. If that doesn�t seem to work, see me.
What about Sublime or other editors
and IDEs?
Sublime Text
is a great editor and is used extensively by professional programmers. If you
would like to use it in your own work and would like to invest the time to
learn how to use it, it would be time well spent. Due to licensing
restrictions, we cannot install the evaluation version on our computers and the
pay version is a bit pricey. For our purposes in this class, Idle will work
just fine.