Python on OSX: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 17:56, 12 May 2011

OS X 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 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.
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.
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.

« Back to the Friday setup page

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 <ol>
-<li>Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.
+<li>Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.<br />
+<br />
-The 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.
+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.
 </li>
 <li>Test your Python install at the command prompt. Type
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 and hit enter. You should see something like
 <pre>
-Python 2.6.1 (r261:67515, Feb 11 2010, 00:51:29)
+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.
@@ Line 20: / Line 21: @@
 </pre>
-You just started Python! The <code>>>></code> 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.
+* You just started Python! The <code>>>></code> 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.<br />
+* 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.
 </li>
 <li>To exit the Python prompt, type
@@ Line 32: / Line 35: @@
 '''Success!'''
+You have tested your Python installation.
 [[Boston Python workshop 2/Friday setup|&laquo; Back to the Friday setup page]]