Montreal Python Workshop/Friday/Linux interactive Python

Most operating systems based on Linux ship 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. Start up a terminal. You can find a terminal application in the main menu, 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 (which looks something like jesstess$).

Success!

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

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