Boston Python Workshop/Friday handout

Objective

After going through this setup document, you will have a Python, git, and Django environment that lets you write Python code locally. You will be able to use Github.com and git to track changes to the code you write.

This document is available on the web; if you have a printed copy, you can see the URL on the last page. You can always refer back to it, or show it to other people.

ColorWall Setup

The ColorWall project has no dependencies on common, modern Linux, OS X, and Windows distributions. To confirm that you have no dependencies to install, run:

import Tkinter

at a Python prompt. If that command results in an ImportError, let a staff member know and we'll help get your dependencies set up.

Section 1: Accounts on the web

Time: 15 minutes, hopefully.

You're going to need accounts on:

• Alwaysdata.com: This is a French web hosting company. Their free account level has Django support, so you'll use it to run your code and let other people access it over the web.

• Github.com: This is the most popular hosting company for git, a popular version control system. You will use them to store versions of your code.

Alwaysdata account

Alwaysdata.com lets you create a free hosting account. You'll give them your name and email address and set a password that you'll use to log into the account.

• Make your account here
• Choose the "Pack gratuit (10 Mo)". It means "Free account (10 megabytes of storage)".

Note: They will send you your password by email. If you feel queasy about receiving your password by email, then use one that you don't mind receiving.

On the back of this piece of paper, take a moment to write down the username, email address, and maybe password that you used to sign up for the Alwaydata.com account.

Github.com

Github.com is the most popular git-based service you can use to store files.

Go to http://github.com/ and create an account. You can choose whatever username you want. Once it is configured, you can continue on through these setup instructions.

Testing

You might be itching to make sure you created these accounts properly. We'll test that later.

Section 2: Installing software

Different operating systems have different ways to install things.

• OS X 10.6 or 10.5 (Snow Leopard or Leopard). Click here if you're not sure what version of OS X you have.
• Windows (XP, Vista, or 7)
• Ubuntu and Debian

Section 3: Configuring your accounts on the web

Alwaysdata: Enable SSH

• Log into your Alwaysdata account at https://admin.alwaysdata.com/
• In the left-hand side, underneath Remote access, click SSH
• Click the gear icon for your user
• Find the checkbox to enable SSH.
• Click Submit!

Make sure Git and Github are working together

• First, load https://github.com/ in a new tab.

• Then, open up http://help.github.com/create-a-repo/ and follow the instructions to create a repository.

Follow the instructions carefully; for example, do call your repository Hello World as they suggest.

If it worked, you'll see a new repository listed in your Github.com account, and it will have a README file explaining what it is.

Friday is over

Chat with us! Ask questions! Go home!

Love,

Boston Python Workshop staff.

FIXME

• Convert this to the format of http://www.wiki.devchix.com/index.php?title=Workshop_Installation_Notes_Rails_3