Basic Python installation instructions and tips
Install most recent stable version of Python from Python.org.
If you do not already have a favorite text editor or IDE, install the community version of VS code.
From the command line, test if you have python properly installed.
python --versionorpython3 --version
Then ensure you have pip
pip show piporpip3 show pip
Open the Python shell (interpreter) from the command line:
pythonorpython3
Import a built-in library:
>>> import this
This prints The Zen of Python, by Tim Peters below your import statement
(it is technically printing to what is called "stdout"). How neat!
That's really all that the library this does, so let's try another library.
Import another built-in library:
>>> import antigravity
Antigravity opens a browser tab with an XKCD comic about exploring Python's rich ecosystem. How cute!
Python has many useful built-in packages, as well.
Import and do something with a useful built-in library:
>>> from datetime import datetime>>> that_time = datetime.now()>>> datetime.now() - that_time
The variable that_time is storing the timestamp at the moment we entered the command on line 2.
On line 3, we are measuring how much time has passed since creating that_time!
Wait a few more seconds and try again:
>>> datetime.now() - that_time
Even more time has passed! The variable that_time will store the same timestamp until
we overwrite that_time or close the shell.
You use pip to install Python packages that are not in the standard library (not built-in).
python -m pip install <<package-name>>
These are hosted at the Python Package Index, PyPI ("pie-pee-eye"). Be careful of typos during pip install, as that is one way hackers try to use pip to gain access to your machine.