OSX set up Python (Anaconda)

Test your Python install
Lucky for us, OS X comes with Python installed! But we need to make sure we have an appropriate version of Python installed and make sure we 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.

 To exit the Python prompt, type
 * 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.

exit

and press Enter. This will take you back to the OS X command prompt. 

Success!
You have tested your Python installation.

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 Anaconda 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.
 * Use all of the defaults for installation, except make sure to check Make Anaconda the default Python.

Note This install will take just over 366MB for the 64-bit installer (which is most likely the version you'll be installing.)

Test to make sure Python is working
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>>
 * 1) Open a Command Prompt. You can do this by hitting WIN+R, and typing in cmd.
 * 2) * This is called a "command line interface"---a way of interacting with your computer by typing.
 * 3) Test your Python install at the command prompt. Type python and hit enter. You should see something like

 You just started Python! The  indicates that you are at a new type of prompt: a Python prompt. The command prompt lets you navigate your computer and run programs, and the Python prompt lets you write and run Python code interactively.   To exit the Python prompt, type exit and press Enter. This will take you back to the Windows command prompt.  

Success!
You have Python installed and configured.

More information
If you do not want to use the Anaconda installer, you can take a look at this page. However, set up will be significantly more difficult.