This exercise has no code. It is simply the exercise you complete to get your computer to run Python.
You should follow these instructions as exactly as possible. For example, Mac OSX computers already have Python 2,so do not install Python 3(or any python)
WARNING! If you do not know how to use PowerShell on Windows or the Terminal
on OSX or “Bash” on Linux, then you need to go learn that first. I have included an
abbreviated version of my book The Command Line Crash Course in the appendix. Go
through that first and then come back to these instructions.
Mac OSX
To complete this exercise, complete the following tasks:
1.Go to http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler with your browser, get the
TextWrangler text editor, and install it.
2. Put TextWrangler (your editor) in your dock so you can reach it easily.
3 Find your Terminal program. Search for it. You will find it.
4. Put your Terminal in your dock as well.
5. Run your Terminal program. It won’t look like much.
6.In your Terminal program, run python. You run things in Terminal by just typing the
name and hitting RETURN.
7.Hit CTRL-Z (^Z), Enter, and get out of python.
8.You should be back at a prompt similar to what you had before you typed python. If not,
find out why.
9.Learn how to make a directory in the Terminal.
10.Learn how to change into a directory in the Terminal.
11.Use your editor to create a file in this directory. You will make the file, “Save” or
“Save As . . . ,” and pick this directory.
12.Go back to Terminal using just the keyboard to switch windows.
13.Back in Terminal, see if you can list the directory to see your newly created file.
OSX: What You Should See
Here’s me doing this on my computer in Terminal. Your computer would be different, so see if you
can figure out all the differences between what I did and what you should do.
Last login: Sat Apr 24 00:56:54 on ttys001
~ $ python
Python 2.5.1 (r251:54863, Feb 6 2009, 19:02:12)
[GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5465)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> ^D
~ $ mkdir mystuff
~ $ cd mystuff
mystuff $ ls
# ... Use TextWrangler here to edit test.txt....
mystuff $ ls
test.txt
mystuff $
Windows
1. Go to http://notepad-plus-plus.org with your browser, get the Notepad++ text editor,
and install it. You do not need to be the administrator to do this.
2. Make sure you can get to Notepad++ easily by putting it on your desktop and/or in
Quick Launch. Both options are available during setup.
3. Run PowerShell from the Start menu. Search for it and you can just hit Enter to run it.
4. Make a shortcut to it on your desktop and/or Quick Launch for your convenience.
5. Run your Terminal program. It won’t look like much.
6.I n your Terminal program, run python. You run things in Terminal by just typing the
name and hitting Enter.
a. If you run python and it’s not there (python is not recognized.), install it from
http://python.org/download.
b. Make sure you install Python 2, not Python 3.
c. You may be better off with ActiveState Python, especially if you do not have adminis-
trative rights.
d. If after you install it python still isn’t recognized, then in PowerShell enter this:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$env:Path;C:\Python27", "User")
e. Close PowerShell and then start it again to make sure Python now runs. If it doesn’t,
restart may be required.
7. Type quit() and hit Enter to exit python.
8. You should be back at a prompt similar to what you had before you typed python. If not,
find out why.
9. Learn how to make a directory in the Terminal.
10. Learn how to change into a directory in the Terminal.
11. Use your editor to create a file in this directory. Make the file, Save or Save As... and
pick this directory.
12. Go back to Terminal using just the keyboard to switch windows.
13. Back in Terminal, see if you can list the directory to see your newly created file.
Windows: What You Should See
> python
ActivePython 2.6.5.12 (ActiveState Software Inc.) based on
Python 2.6.5 (r265:79063, Mar 20 2010, 14:22:52) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> ^Z
> mkdir mystuff
> cd mystuff
... Here you would use Notepad++ to make test.txt in mystuff ...
>
<bunch of unimportant errors if you installed it as non- admin - ignore them - hit Enter>
> dir
Volume in drive C is
Volume Serial Number is 085C-7E02
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\you\mystuff
04.05.2010
23:32
<DIR>
04.05.2010
23:32
<DIR>
04.05.2010
23:32
6.
..
test.txt
You will probably see a very different prompt, Python information, and other stuff, but this is the
general idea.
Linux
Linux is a varied operating system with a bunch of different ways to install software. I’m assuming
if you are running Linux then you know how to install packages, so here are your instructions:
1. Use your Linux package manager and install the gedit text editor.
2. Make sure you can get to gedit easily by putting it in your window manager’s menu.
a. Run gedit so we can fix some stupid defaults it has.
b. Open Preferences and select the Editor tab.
c. Change Tab width: to 4.
d. Select (make sure a check mark is in) Insert spaces instead of tabs.
e. Turn on Automatic indentation as well.
f. Open the View tab and turn on Display line numbers.
3. Find your Terminal program. It could be called GNOME Terminal, Konsole, or xterm.
4. Put your Terminal in your dock as well.
5. Run your Terminal program. It won’t look like much.
6. In your Terminal program, run Python. You run things in Terminal by just typing the
name and hitting Enter.
a. If you run Python and it’s not there, install it. Make sure you install Python 2, not
Python 3.
7. Type quit() and hit Enter to exit Python.
8. You should be back at a prompt similar to what you had before you typed python. If not,
find out why.
9. Learn how to make a directory in the Terminal.
10. Learn how to change into a directory in the Terminal.
11. Use your editor to create a file in this directory. Typically you will make the file, Save or
Save As..., and pick this directory.
12. Go back to Terminal using just the keyboard to switch windows. Look it up if you can’t
figure it out.
13. Back in Terminal, see if you can list the directory to see your newly created file.
Linux: What You Should See
$ python
Python 2.6.5 (r265:79063, Apr 1 2010, 05:28:39)
[GCC 4.4.3 20100316 (prerelease)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
$ mkdir mystuff
$ cd mystuff
# ... Use gedit here to edit test.txt ...
$ ls
test.txt
$
You will probably see a very different prompt, Python information, and other stuff, but this is the
general idea.
Warnings for Beginners
You are done with this exercise. This exercise might be hard for you, depending on your familiarity
with your computer. If it is difficult, take the time to read and study and get through it, because
until you can do these very basic things, you will find it difficult to get much programming done.
If a programmer tells you to use vim or emacs, just say “no.” These editors are for when you are a
better programmer. All you need right now is an editor that lets you put text into a file. We will
use gedit, TextWrangler, or Notepad++ (from now on called “the text editor” or “a text editor”)
because it is simple and the same on all computers. Professional programmers use these text edi-
tors, so it’s good enough for you starting out.
A programmer may try to get you to install Python 3 and learn that. Say, “When all the Python
code on your computer is Python 3, then I’ll try to learn it.” That should keep him or her busy for
about 10 years.
A programmer will eventually tell you to use Mac OSX or Linux. If the programmer likes fonts and
typography, he’ll tell you to get a Mac OSX computer. If he likes control and has a huge beard,
he’ll tell you to install Linux. Again, use whatever computer you have right now that works. All
you need is an editor, a Terminal, and Python.
Finally, the purpose of this setup is so you can do four things very reliably while you work on the
exercises:
1. Write exercises using your text editor, gedit on Linux, TextWrangler on OSX, or Notepad++
on Windows.
2. Run the exercises you wrote.
3. Fix them when they are broken.
4. Repeat.
Anything else will only confuse you, so stick to the plan.
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