Lesson 2
The Basic Elements
Chapter 2: Installing Python
Installing Python
We are expecting the machines in our labs to be running on Python 3.12 by September 2024 (subject to any last minute changes by the department).
We will be officially using the same version of Python for the course. Please make sure that your version of Python is at least the version stated above.
A newer version of Python is fine (as long as you do not use any of the fancy new features in that version!) It is also your own responsibility to make sure that your code works and runs correctly in this specific version of Python as this will be used to mark your coursework assignments.
In this chapter, I will be covering how to install a standard, official Python distribution.
This will strip everything down to the basics, which will help you understand what goes on behind the scenes better. It also gives you better control on what other libraries you install to your Python installation. Later on in our course, you will be installing more external libraries, so installing things from scratch can help you understand these nitty gritty details better.
You can choose to use another distribution like Anaconda, but only do this if you know what you are doing! Keep in mind though that you will not always be able to get all the latest external libraries via conda because of compatibility issues!
If you already have Python installed on your computer, then you can safely skip this chapter.
I will present installation instructions for each operating system separately, so feel free to skip any irrelevant pages.
If you have problems installing Python, then an alternative will be to use an online interpreter, such as PythonAnywhere. Register for a free beginners account on PythonAnywhere, and you can just use Python on the Cloud until you can get help from us when term starts!