View source for OSX set up Python

Lucky for us, OS X comes with Python installed! All we need to do is 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.

<ol>
<li>Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.<br />

<br />
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

<pre>
python
</pre>

and hit enter. You should see something like
<pre>
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.
>>>
</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.<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

<pre>
exit()
</pre>

and press Enter. This will take you back to the OS X command prompt.</li>
</ol>

== Success! ==

You have tested your Python installation.