Boston Python workshop 2/Friday setup/Interactive Python on Linux

Linux 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.

1. Open a Terminal command prompt. You can find the Terminal application at Applications/Accessories/Terminal, or it may already be on your menu bar.
2. To start Python, type

   python
   

   at the comand prompt and hit enter. You should see something like

   Python 2.7.1 (r252:60911, Jan 24 2011, 17:44:40) 
   [GCC 4.3.2] on linux2
   Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
   >>> 
   

   The >>> indicates that you are at a Python prompt.
3. Exit the Python prompt by typing

   exit()
   

   and hitting enter. Now you're back at the Linux command prompt.

Success!

Practice these steps until you feel comfortable navigating to a command prompt, starting Python, and exiting Python.

« Back to the Friday setup page