Python is a popular, high-level programming language known for its simplicity and readability.
It's used by developers all over the world to build everything from websites and web applications to
data
analysis tools and machine learning models. In this chapter, we'll go over the basics of setting up
the
Python environment and writing simple Python programs.
Installing Python
The first step in setting up the Python environment is to install Python on your computer.
This can be done by visiting the official Python website (https://www.python.org/) and downloading
the latest version of Python for your operating system.
Once the installer is downloaded, run it and follow the prompts to install Python. Be sure to check
the box that says "Add Python to PATH" before installing, as this will make it easier to run Python
from the command line.
The Command Line
Once Python is installed, you can test the installation by opening a command line window
(also known as a terminal or console) and typing "python" followed by the Enter key. If everything is
set up correctly, you should see the Python interpreter appear, along with the version number and
the prompt ">>>".
Writing a Simple Python Program
Now that Python is installed and you have access to the command line, you can start writing Python
programs!
Open a new text file using your preferred text editor (such as Notepad or Sublime Text), and save it
with a
.py extension (e.g., "hello_world.py").
In the text file, enter the following code:
print("Hello, world!")