How to Install Python

This page serves as a guide on how to install the latest version of Python, and includes reccomendations on useful programs to aid in software programming.

Steps

1. Download the most recent version of Python here https://www.python.org/downloads/
2. Install required packages (PyFAI, imageio_ffmpeg)
3. It is useful to install an IDE to aid in your coding

• An IDE is an "Integrated Development Environment", and there are many free, open-source Python IDE's available. An IDE makes typing your code easier by suggesting inputs and highlighting errors, in addition to other helpful features.
• See the section below for a list of recommended Python IDE's.

Recommendations

Anaconda

We reccomend installing Anaconda after you have installed the latest version of Python. Anaconda is a Python platform manager that comes with many pre-downloaded applications that are used in scientific research, such as the Spyder IDE and Jupyter Notebooks.

The "Individual Edition" is a free, open-sourced version. You should review the terms to ensure that your usage meets their requirements.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

We recommend installing either the Spyder or PyCharm IDE. Both of these platforms are free and open-source, and are still supported by their developers (meaning they have updates to patch issues and fix bugs within the program). The Spyder IDE comes pre-installed in Anaconda, which includes other useful applications as well.

-- Main. JohnLee - 29 Jun 2020