Setting up the Python environment refers to installing Python on your computer and configuring it to work actively. Setup a Python environment by following the steps below:
Install Python
Visit the official Python website at www.python.org and download the latest version for your operating system. Run Setup and follow the on-screen instructions. Don’t forget to select the option to add Python to the system PATH during installation.
Check the installation
Open a command prompt or terminal and type python –version. This will display the installed Python version. Also, you can run python in the command prompt where you can execute Python code.
Package manager (optional)
It may be a good idea to install a package manager, such as pip (included in recent Python distributions) or condo (part of the Anaconda distribution), to allow you to easily manage Python packages.
A text editor or IDE (optional)
Select a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) to write the Python code. Popular options include Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, Atom, Sublime Text, and IDLE (an IDE supported by Python). Install your preferred editor/IDE according to the instructions provided.
Virtual Environment (optional)
It is recommended to create a virtual environment to keep your Python projects and requirements separate. Virtual environments allow you to decouple different sets of packages and versions for individual projects and their needs. You can create a virtual environment using the venv module or tools like virtualenv or conda.
Install additional packages
Use a package manager (pip or conda) to install any additional Python packages you may need for your projects. For example, you can install packages such as NumPy, pandas, matplotlib, or Django by running pip install package_name or conda install package_name in a command prompt or terminal.
Write code and run
Your setup is complete! Start writing Python code in your favourite text editor or IDE. Save your Python files with .py extension and run them by executing python file_name.py in the command prompt or terminal.
By following these steps, you will have a functional Python environment ready for development. Take care to keep your Python installation and packages up to date by checking for and updating to the latest versions.