To start using Python, follow the steps below:
1. Install Python:
- Download Python from the official Python website.
- Follow the installation instructions for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- During installation, ensure the “Add Python to PATH” option is checked.
2. Open the Python interpreter:
After installation, start Python in the following ways:
- On Windows: Open the command prompt (search for
cmd
) and typepython
. - On macOS/Linux: Open the terminal and type
python3
(orpython
ifpython3
is not required).
This will open the interactive Python shell where you can execute Python commands.
3. Write the Python code:
- To test simple Python code, type directly into the Python shell.
Example:print("Hello, World!")
- To write and execute scripts, create a
.py
file using a text editor or an IDE like VS Code, PyCharm, or Jupyter Notebook.
Save the file and run it from the terminal using:python filename.py
4. Install an IDE (Optional):
To make coding easier, you can use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like:
- VS Code
- PyCharm
- Jupyter Notebook