How To Install Python?

 INTRODUCTION

Before we talk about to install Python and which Python distribution to install, it is important to discuss whether to use Python 2.x or Python 3.x. 

Python 2.x. vs. Python 3.x.

Python 2.x. is a legacy version which was last released in 2010 (version 2.7.x.) and discontinued after that, but the support for this version remained for the sake of backward compatibility. Python 3.x. is considered the present and future edition of the language. Python 3.x. is a preferred version to use because of these :-

1.  The overwhelming majority of third-party Python Library support Python 3.x.
2. Python 3.x. has many features and performances benefits that aren't available in Python 2.x.
3. Also, the differences in syntax between the two versions are fairly minimal. It won't take long to learn Python 2.x if ever you need to.

Python Distributions

Python is an interpretered language and you need Python interpreter to execute Python programs. As Python is becoming preferred choice for multiple applications such as data science, business applications, numeric and scientific computing, software development etc. You need additional libraries to use in python for the intended use. In Python, the packages are not the part of the python standard library. If you directly download Python's default distribution (called CPython ), you need to install required additional packages and library separately. Few major packages, libraries and framework are:-

1. Numpy ( NUMeric Python) : matrices and linear algebra 
2. Scipy (SCIentific Python) : many numerical routines
3. Pandas : data analysis and modeling library
4. Pytest (Python TESTing ) : a code testing framework
5. And many many more

STEP-1 

Downloading and installing Default Python Distribution

Default Python Distribution (often called CPython) can be downloaded from the link:

www.python.orgs Download link.

After downloading the desired Python version for your specific platform (Window / mac OS / Linux ), you can install it by running the downloaded installer file. and following the instructions.

You can run the installed Python distribution from the Start menu, as you do with all installed programs. 

STEP-2 

Downloading and installing Anaconda Distribution

Many experts recommend Anaconda Python Distribution for these reasons :

• It is a free and open source Distribution
• It comes preloaded with many of Python packages, tools like editors, some additional libraries,along with python interpreter ( nearly more than 100 librariesare bundled with it).
• It makes packages handling much easier (very easy to load more packages and libraries )
  
  
  

Anaconda comes with preloaded packages and libraries supporting many applications such as large scale data processing, predictive analytics, scientific computing and many more. You can download Anaconda distribution from the link .

 

After downloading, installing anaconda is very easy. just run the downloaded installer and follow the instructions.

After installing Anaconda distribution, you can run the installed Python distribution from the Start menu, as you do with all installed programs.

To run Anaconda distribution GUI features launch Anaconda Navigator from the Start menu.

STEP-3 Python Installation Tutorial for Linux

Linux is an open source Operating System. There are many Linux based operating systems, such as Ubuntu,Fedora,Linux Mint, Debian 

etc. Most of the newer Linux based Operating system have already installed Python. You can check it is installed or not by the typing the following commands in terminal.

For Python3

    $ Python3 --version 

If you see the Python version as output as shown below , it means Python is preinstallaed on your OS.

If, however, you do not get any such output, you can follow the instructions given below to install Python on your Linux OS. Prior to this, make sure to download Python installation files for your Linux OS.

• Open the terminal or Command prompt from your Linux based OS. Type the following commands.

1. $sudo apt-get update
2. $sudo apt-get install Python.3.6