Contributing to Python

Goal #1: practice navigating from the command line
Many of the tools of open source development are primarily used via the command line. Let's get some practice with navigating the computer from the command line.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #2: install a text editor
We need a good text editor (not a word processor!) for editing Python code.

If you already have a preferred text editor, skip this step.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #3: install an IRC client
IRC is a real-time chat protocol that open source projects often use to talk about the project and as a medium for users and developers to help each other.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #4: more IRC

 * Skim http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html. Pay particular attention to:
 * Sending private messages
 * joining and leaving a channel
 * Send someone in  a private message
 * Join the  channel
 * Explore other channels like  and  . You can get a full list of Freenode's channels here. What are some other interesting channels?