This course is based on Python 3.
Python 2 is still popular in many circles due to the extensive library support for very specific scientific and date-processing related tasks.
However, for the average user, Python 3 is the best place to start. There are some distinct differences between the versions meaning they are not backwards-compatible. The quickest way to spot the difference between programs is the print statement, as illustrated below.
Python 2
print "Hello World"Python 3
print("Hello World")Install Python
The first step is to get the latest version of Python. This site assumes you are using Windows as your base operating system.
Get a decent IDE
Writing Python using IDLE is great for simple programs but moving to an IDE offers tons of additional functionality to help you code more efficiently, and stay more organised.
There are loads options to choose from and this article by Jon Fincher outlines the pros and cons of a range of different IDE’s available.
IDLE Interpreter
For the most part I stick to the basic Python IDLE interpreter that is bundled with the Python Install because that’s what we are stuck with in school at the moment. The lack of feature also keeps me a little sharper.
PyCharm
PyCharm supports Python development directly. You can just open a new file and start writing code. You can run and debug Python directly inside PyCharm, and it has support for source control and projects. The community version is free to download.
Atom
Available on all platforms, Atom is billed as the “hackable text editor for the 21st Century.” With a sleek interface, file system browser, and marketplace for extensions, open-source Atom is built using Electron, a framework for creating desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Python language support is provided by an extension that can be installed when Atom is running.