OSX set up Python (Anaconda): Difference between revisions

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<!-- need to update. everything below this is the old Windows instructions -->
<!-- need to update. everything below this is the old Windows instructions -->
* Download and install [https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/ Anaconda]. Follow the link and click on the big blue <span style="background-color: #0000FF; color: #FFFFFF">Download Anaconda</span> button in the top right corner. The website will ask you for your email address when you log in. There's no reason to leave the checkbox marked saying that you want mail from Continuum.
* Download and install [http://continuum.io/downloads Anaconda]. Follow the link and click on the big blue <span style="background-color: #0000FF; color: #FFFFFF">Download OSX -- 64-Bit Python 2.7 Graphical Installer</span> link in the page. The website will ask you for your email address when you log in. There's no reason to leave the checkbox marked saying that you want mail from Continuum.
* Use all of the defaults for installation, except make sure to '''check Make Anaconda the default Python'''.
* Click continue through the install process and install Anaconda in your home folder.


'''Note''' This install will take just over 366MB for the 64-bit installer (which is most likely the version you'll be installing.)
'''Note''' This install will take approximately 890MB for the 64-bit installer (which is most likely the version you'll be installing.) If you do not have this much space on your computer, you cannot install Anaconda, but you can still run Python--follow the instructions below!


== Test your Python install ==
== Test your Python install ==

Revision as of 03:54, 3 November 2014

Download and install Anaconda

In order to be able to do all the exercises in the workshop without having to worry about installing special things later on, we're going to install a collection of extra Python libraries called Anaconda. Anaconda includes the Python programming language and a bunch of different pieces of software that are useful for data science and analysis. Although the collection includes all free software, it is put together by a commercial company called Continuum Analytics.

To install Anaconda, you should:

  • Download and install Anaconda. Follow the link and click on the big blue Download OSX -- 64-Bit Python 2.7 Graphical Installer link in the page. The website will ask you for your email address when you log in. There's no reason to leave the checkbox marked saying that you want mail from Continuum.
  • Click continue through the install process and install Anaconda in your home folder.

Note This install will take approximately 890MB for the 64-bit installer (which is most likely the version you'll be installing.) If you do not have this much space on your computer, you cannot install Anaconda, but you can still run Python--follow the instructions below!

Test your Python install

Now that you have installed everything you need, we will make sure we can start a Terminal and run Python from the command line.

  1. Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.

    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.
  2. Test your Python install at the command prompt. Type
    python
    

    and hit enter. You should see something like

    Python 2.7.1 (r261:67515, Feb 11 2010, 00:51:29) 
    [GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5646)] on darwin
    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.
  3. To exit the Python prompt, type
    exit()
    
    and press Enter. This will take you back to the OS X command prompt.

Success!

You have tested your Python installation.