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Commit e49dfb2

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AkuliAkuli
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updating the installing and running instructions
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‎basics/installing-python.md‎

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@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ need to try out the code examples. You can use a website like
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installing Python. That way you don't need to open a web browser just
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to write code, and you can work without an Internet connection.
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It doesn't matter which operating system you use because Python runs
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great on Windows, Mac OSX, Linux and many other operating systems.
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However, installing and launching Python are done differently on
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different operating systems, so just follow your operating system's
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instructions.
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Let's get started!
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## Downloading and installing Python
@@ -16,92 +22,55 @@ Use the official Python installer, it will install Python and IDLE for
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you.
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1. Go to [the official Python website](https://www.python.org/).
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2. Move your mouse over the blue Downloads button, but don't click it,
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Then click the button that downloads the latest version of Python.
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2. Move your mouse over the blue Downloads button, but don't click it.
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Then click the button that downloads the latest version of Python.
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3. Run the installer.
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4. Install Python like any other program. Make sure the py.exe
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launcher gets installed.
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4. Make sure that the launcher gets installed and click Install Now.
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### Mac OSX
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![The py.exe launcher.](../images/py-exe.png)
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I don't have an up-to-date copy of Mac OSX. If you would like to write
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instructions for OSX, [tell me](../contact-me.md).
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### Mac OSX
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### GNU/Linux
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At the time of writing this, Macs don't come with a Python 3 and you
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need to install it yourself. It should be like installing any other
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program, but unfortunately I don't have better instructions because I
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don't have an up-to-date Mac and I have never installed Python on a Mac.
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If you would like to write better instructions, [tell
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me](../contact-me.md).
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You already have Python, there's no need to download anything.
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### Linux
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If you want to use IDLE (see below), install it. The name of the
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package is `idle3` on Debian-based distributions, like Ubuntu and Linux
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Mint, and you can install it with a software manager like any other
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program. On other distributions you can just search for idle using the
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distribution's package manager.
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You already have Python 3, **there's no need to install anything**. You
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may also have Python 2, but don't try to remove it. Some of your
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programs are probably written in Python 2, so removing Python 2 would
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break them.
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## Running Python
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Now you have Python installed. There are several ways to run Python:
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1. Directly from PowerShell, command prompt or terminal.
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2. Using IDLE.
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3. Using something else.
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I'm not going to focus on the third option in this tutorial, but if you
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know how to use Python with something else than PowerShell, command
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prompt, a terminal or IDLE it's fine. Do whatever you want.
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### If you are not an advanced user and you have no idea what PowerShell, command prompt and terminal are
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Next we'll learn to run Python on a PowerShell or terminal. There are
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several other ways to run Python, but if you learn this way now it's
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going to make things easier later.
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Use IDLE. Experienced Python users will say that IDLE is garbage, but
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don't listen to them. These people want you to use "better"
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alternatives with more features, but that's exactly what you don't want
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as a beginner. You should spend as little time as possible learning
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your tools, and as much time as possible learning Python. Advanced
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programming tools are not going to help you with this at all.
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Launch Python's IDLE like any other program. You should see something
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like this:
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![IDLE](../images/idle.png)
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From now on, I'll instead show everything like this, so I don't have to
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take more screenshots:
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Python 3.4.3 (default, Oct 14 2015, 20:28:29)
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[GCC 4.8.4] on linux
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Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
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>>>
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The exact content of your Python's welcome message is probably different
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than mine, it's ok.
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### Windows
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### If you like working with PowerShell, command prompt or terminal
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1. Open a PowerShell from your start menu or start screen.
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2. Type `py` and press Enter. You should see something like this:
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On Windows. you should be able to run Python from a PowerShell window,
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or a command prompt window if you don't have PowerShell. Open one of
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these programs from the start menu or start screen, type there `py` and
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press Enter. You should see something like this in it:
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![Python running in a PowerShell window.](../images/powershell.png)
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C:\Users\You> py
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Python 3.4.4 (v3.4.4:737efcadf5a6, Dec 20 2015, 19:28:18)
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[MSC v.1600 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
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Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
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>>>
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### Other operating systems
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On GNU/Linux or Mac OSX, you should have a terminal application installed
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already. Run it and type `python3`:
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1. Open a terminal. How exactly this is done depends on your operating
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system, but most operating systems have some way to search for
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programs. Search for a program called terminal and launch it.
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2. Type `python3` and press Enter. You should see something like this:
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you@YourComputer:~$ python3
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Python 3.4.3 (default, Oct 14 2015, 20:28:29)
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[GCC 4.8.4] on linux
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Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
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>>>
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![Running Python on my terminal.](../images/terminal.png)
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Now you can type `exit()` and press Enter to get out of Python.
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Your terminal probably looks different than mine, it's OK.
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You may also have an older version of Python installed, but don't remove
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it. Your system may need it, so if you replace it with your own Python
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some things might stop working. See
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[this](https://docs.python.org/3/faq/installed.html) for more info.
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Now you can type `exit()` and press Enter to get out of Python. Or you
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can just close the PowerShell or Terminal window.
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## Summary
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