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HowToStart

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Saved by PBworks
on December 6, 2007 at 1:22:12 pm
 



 

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

 

Activestate version - containing some customizations for Windows.

 

Windows

 

After dowloading the installer, double-click to run downloaded .exe file.

 

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. See PythonIDE for more

 

Check if Python is Installed OK

 

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

 

Experimenting with Python

 

 

Help with learning Python

 

First Python Book

No previous experience necessary

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.

 

With some experience

If you program in any language, start with Dive Into Python by Mark Pilgrim

 

More books and videos

 

  • 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 works

 

 

Python cheatsheets

 

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


(more is coming later)

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