Download and installing python

You can download Python for Windows, OS X, and Ubuntu for free from http://python.org/downloads/. If you download the latest version from the website download page.

You’ll find Python installers for 64-bit and 32-bit computers for each operating system on the download page, so first figure out which installer you need. If you bought your computer in 2007 or later, it is most likely a 64-bit system. Otherwise, you have a 32-bit version, but here’s how to find out for sure:

• On Windows, select Start▸Control Panel▸System and check whether System Type says 64-bit or 32-bit.

On Windows, download the Python installer (the filename will end with .msi) and double-click it. Follow the instructions the installer displays on the screen to install Python, as listed here:

1. Select Install for All Users and then click Next.
2. Install to the C:\Python34 folder by clicking Next.
3. Click Next again to skip the Customize Python section.

Starting IDLE

While the Python interpreter is the software that runs your Python programs, the interactive development environment (IDLE) software is where you’ll enter your programs, much like a word processor. Let’s start IDLE now.

• On Windows 7 or newer, click the Start icon in the lower-left corner of your screen, enter IDLE in the search box, and select IDLE (Python GUI).
• On Windows XP, click the Start button and then select Programs ▸ Python 3.4▸IDLE (Python GUI).