Python in your browser

Without installing: online Python - requires javascript-enabled browser. Please don't abuse this site - if you want to use Python for experimenting, install it.

Install Python

You have a choice: standard Python from Python.org, or use Activestate version - containing some customizations for Windows.

• On Windows: you need to download and install it (double-click to run downloaded .exe file - the installer).
• On Mac: rjseagraves from Ubuntu forums says: "Python is installed on the Mac by default, but usually about a minor version behind the latest stable python release. Instead, download a version of IDLE that includes the latest python release at http://www.python.org/download/mac "
• On Linux: Python is installed by default on all distros I know about. If not, follow install guide for your distribution.
• Python on Live CD: You can also download and burn UbuntuLiveCD and run python directly from it (and later use it to install Ubuntu).
• Python IDE: On Linux, you may want to install IDLE - simple Python IDE. On Windows, it is included in installer.

Check Installed Python

• Open terminal window and type 'python', or
• Find Python IDE (called IDLE) in program menu and run it.

Experimenting with Python

• Start with Elementary Introduction to python environment (IDLE), no previous knowledge is necessary
• Learn Python in 10 minutes very terse intro
• Read Instant Hacking - quick and to the point. Requires little experience previous Introduction. Copy-paste examples, and try to change them a little. And do exercises.

First Python Book

Excellent online books with basics (no object oriented programming to get you confused):

Dick Baldwin's tutorial - the best, with good explanations at beginner level. Does not look pretty, but text is excellent.

Byte of Python

Python Tutorial at wikibooks: maybe little too simple: if Baldwin book is confusing, check explanation in wikibooks

Alan Gauld's book. Also good, covers also advanced topics (like OOP), but they are clearly marked.

Hands-On Python A Tutorial Introduction for Beginners, by Andrew N. Harrington, with some videos. Part of programming 101. Up to simple web pages.

For programmers with some experience: Dive Into Python by Mark Pilgrim

More books and reading:

• Introduction to Programming at wikiversity - Simple 1-page intro about what programming is. Gives you a glimpse on CPU instruction - but just a glimpse.

Beginner's Guide has many good resources (also in languages other than English). Follow your own intuition, or try themin this order:

or any from non-programmers guide to python.

Let me know which one you picked, and how did you liked it.

• How Python runs programs

Python videos

http://showmedo.com/videos/python

Python cheatsheets

• http://rgruet.free.fr/PQR25/PQR2.5.html
• http://www.limsi.fr/Individu/pointal/python/pqrc/

Both have more details than beginner need - limsi is under commons license, changeable.

(more is coming later)