1.0 Installing Python on MacOS
To get Python on MacOS, you need to install the official Python package. Firstly, proceed to python.org, the official website of Python. Hover to the Download link on the navbar and proceed to macOS. Here, you can download a version of Python. However, I would prefer that you either install the newest version of Python or a stable release of Python since it is more stable and the diction would not differ much. If you have an ARM flavored MacOS device (e.g devices with M1 or M2), select the universal2 installer. Otherwise, select the Intel-only installer.
After that, simply wait for download to finish. Then, double-click the installation file and proceed the installation. It is recommended to follow the default settings. Also, remember to select the "Add to PATH" during the end so that your device is able to navigate Python conveniently.
To test whether Python is installed well on your device, simply go to the Terminal and type python and enter. This will simply give you a python shell, where you can simply experiment with.
1.1 Installing Python on Windows
Similar to MacOS, you have to proceed to python.org, the official website of Python. Navigate to the Windows Page, and simply choosethe version which suits your version of Windows, since Python has "abolished" some older versions of Windows in their previous releases. Here, I personally recommend using the installer, since you will not be required to connect to the internet during the installation process.
Similar to the MacOS installation, you simply follow the default settings and click continue. Remember to select the "Add to PATH", for Python to be easily found by your device.
To test whether Python works on a windows device, simply go to cmd and type python. Then, click enter for the command to run. This should prompt a python shell, which you can deal with simple code.
1.3 IDE Installation (VSCode)
In this case, I will use VSCode as an example. For people who prefers other IDEs such as Pycharm or Thonny, you can find other tutorials on the installation part, since they are all kind of the same process.
The official website for VSCode is simply code.visualstudio.com. Simply proceed to the website and click the Download button right in front of you. The website detects your device and chooses the right version of VSCode for you, therefore there is nothing to worry about.
After finishing the download, run the executable file to install the application. Then, open the app and navigate to Extensions and search for Python. Download the Python plugin, and you are all set to start your journey!
1.4 Coding on the Web
For people who uses mobile devices (phones) or tablets (IPads, Amazon Fire etc...), coding on the web may be a good decision for you, since you do not need a native environment and it is very convenient.
There are many websites which offer this service. However, I would recommend the website below:
replit: https://replit.com/
w3school.cn: https://www.w3school.com.cn/tiy/t.asp?f=python_default
W3schools (China): https://www.w3schools.cn/python/trypython.asp
W3schools (International): https://www.w3schools.com/python/trypython.asp?filename=demo_default
If help is needed, feel free to reach out to landy_zhuo@outlook.com.
