Do you know how to open the command line yet? If not, look under “Getting Started” on the main page. This is easier than it was in previous years, but it still might be a kind of stressful experience, but I promise we’ll get through it together.

Python 2 vs Python 3

Once upon a time there was Python 2, and everyone was happy. Except… not really, because Python did a lot of things poorly, especially when you stopped working with the English alphabet (a.k.a. the Latin alphabet). Àçčêñtś were a disaster, and forget about using 中文 or 한글 without running into a hundred problems. Data is international, and that’s why we’re using Python 3.

A lot of people still use Python 2, though. And they can be a little vocal about it, too. That’s okay, it’s fine, that’s just who they are. They’re just not us!

…to be honest, using Python 2 used to make sense when a lot of software hadn’t been upgraded to use Python 3, but now pretty much everything is Python 3 compatible. So when you see people yelling about Python 2 vs Python 3, just know you’re on the right team.

Installing Python 3 & Friends

Making sure that everything is installed correctly can cause a lot of headaches, and we don’t want anyone to be held up during class by little issues here or there. You might not understand everything that we’re doing below, but after a few weeks you’ll definitely look back “get it.”

Also, don’t hestitate to ask for help if you seem to run into issues!

If/when you get a prompt that says “Password: []” and you type and type and nothing shows up: just type the password and hit enter. It doesn’t look like it’s doing anything but it is! It’s just trying to keep your password secret from anyone who might be looking at your screen.

Installing Python with Python Wrangler

Having struggled with a hundred and one Python installations over the years, I actually went and built and entire application just to get your computer set up correctly.

It’s called Python Wrangler, and you can download it here:

Download it, run it, and visit the Walkthrough page. The defaults should be correct - no Python 2, Anaconda only for Windows people, and yes to Jupyter and virtual environments. If for some reason you really need Python 2 you can turn it on.

Windows users: I ask you to install Python using Anaconda, which I usually don’t like very much because it makes things almost too easy for you. The problem is that if you don’t use Anaconda, adding extra bits and pieces onto Python is a real pain, and I’d rather not have you sobbing about installing GDAL at 4am. Mac people have it a little easier (sorry!).

I haven’t tested it on that many computers yet, so if you have a problem it’s definitely Python Wrangler and not your machine! Just let me know and I can help you out.

If Python Wrangler is asking you to remove folders that you can’t find or that might seem important (e.g. aren’t named something like Python27), give me a shout and I’ll take a look.

Checking to see if it worked

Let’s test this out! Restart your computer before you try this, as some changes need a reboot to work correctly.

We’re going to see how much Python 3 we’re rocking on our machine. Run each of the following commands, making sure the result says something about Python 3.

python3 --version

pip3 --version

python --version

pip --version

If only some of them do, make note of which ones and email me the results. If they all do, you’re probably good to go.