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Get Started

Try to do the following before the first day of class.

1. Install Python

$ conda update conda
$ conda install ipython

2. Check Your Python Installation

  1. Open a terminal, i.e., operating system (OS) command shell.

    • The Mac OS X terminal is /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app in the Finder. You should drag Terminal to your dock – you’ll use it often.

    • On Windows search for and run cmd.exe, for example by simply typing cmd in the start search box.

  2. At the command prompt type python3 --version. You should get a response like Python 3.5.2 :: Continuum Analytics, Inc..

    • Note: on Windows the Python 3 command is just python (without the 3). Anaconda/Miniconda also aliases python to python3.

3. Choose, install and configure a text editor using our text editors guide.

In this class we will use the terminal, the Python REPLs (python and ipython), and text editors. We will not use an integrated development environment (IDE) such as IDLE or PyCharm. Learning how to use the command line and text editors is crucial to becoming a competent programmer and data manipulator.

Learn About Programming and Computing

Learn About Python