Chicago Python Workshop/Setup/OSX interactive Python

1. Start up a Terminal command prompt. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.
2. To start Python, type

   python
   

   at the command prompt 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.
   >>>
   

   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 OS X command prompt (which looks something like jesstess$).

Success!

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