Linux set up Python
From CommunityData
- To install Pythong using the Anaconda distribution, see Linux set up Python (Anaconda).
Linux ships with Python installed, so the goal of this page is to make sure you can start a terminal and run Python from the command line.
- Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application at Applications/Accessories/Terminal, or it may already be on your menu bar.
This Terminal contains something called a command prompt. This command prompt is another way of navigating your computer and running programs -- just textually instead of graphically. We are going to be running Python and Python scripts from this command prompt. - Test your Python install at the command prompt. Type
python
and hit enter. You should see something like
Python 2.7.1 (r252:60911, Jan 24 2011, 17:44:40) [GCC 4.3.2] on linux2 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>>
- You just started Python! The
>>>
indicates that you are at a new type of prompt: a Python prompt. The command prompt let's you navigate your computer and run programs, and the Python prompt lets you write and run Python code interactively. - If the Python version number (2.7.1 in the example above) is not a number between 2.4 and 2.7 (ignoring the number after the second dot), tell a staff member.
- To exit the Python prompt, type
exit()
and press Enter. This will take you back to the Linux command prompt.
You might need to install a package called python-tk.
Success![edit]
You have tested your Python installation!