Python Setup
############

..  include::   /header.inc

In this section, we will go over setting up Python_ on your own system (it is
already installed in the labs). 

..  warning::

    There are multiple versions of Python_ available. We will be using Python_
    version 3.7 (the latest version) for the course. Many Python examples you
    might find on the Internet are designed for the older Python 2.7 series. We
    will not be using any of these programs, but beware when you surf for help.

Get the required Resources
**************************

We start off by downloading the installation file we will need. The file can be
obtained from the official Python_ project website at http://www.python.org.
(That is where you end up if you click on any of the Python_ links). Navigate
to the download page and pick a download that matches your system. For most of
us, we should pick a 64-bit Windows version of Python 3.7.x (where X was 0 when
I did my install).

..  warning::

    You can pick a 32 bit version if you wish, or if your system is an older
    32-bit system.  As of the day I wrote these notes, this is the file I would
    pick:

* `Python 3.7.0 Windows installer <https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.7.0/python-3.7.0-amd64.exe>`_

After the file is on your system,  you can run by double
clicking on the file name in the "Windows Explorer" tool.

..  warning::

    The system will ask you if you want to install this program for a single
    user or all users. Pick all users!

Picking where to install
************************

You can let the program install where Microsoft wants to put things, but as a
person who generates a lot of scripts, I prefer to put my programming tools in
another place. 

I set up a directory called ``tools`` at the root of my ``C`` drive. Under that
directory, I place subdirectories for each major tool I install, and I create a
subdirectory named ``bin`` for simple executable tools I install. We will go
over this in the lab. I do this so the ``path`` I need to type into a
:term:`script` will be short and simple.

So, I choose to install Python_ in ``c:\tools\Python37`` (no matter what the
minor version number says). 

Setting up the system ``path``
******************************

Before we are ready to run Python_, we need to set the system up so it can find
it from the :term:`command prompt` we will be using in class.

To do this. Follow the instructions in the lecture :ref:`command-line` and
add ``c:\tools\python37`` to the system ``path variable``. You should also add
``c:\tools\Python37/Scripts`` since we will need it as the course proceeds.

That is all we need to do. To make sure everything works, open up a
:term:`command prompt` window and type in ``python``. You should see the
interpreter sign on as we did earlier!