Let's see if we installed Python successfully!
First open your terminal and we can now start Python (specifically, the Python console).
To do that, just write python3 or py or python into the terminal:
$ python3
Python 3.8.1 (default, Dec 24 2019, 17:02:07)
[GCC 9.2.1 20191008] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>This command will print some information. In the first line, it shows which version of Python you have (you should have Python 3.8+).
The command line starts with a >>> symbol. This way Python prompts (asks) you for instructions. This is the same as the standard command line, but instead of commands like cd or mkdir, you write Python specific commands.
What if previous command returns something else?
If you are on Windows, the command to run is sometimes called py or python instead of python3, try that instead. If that does not work either:
Then most probably the Python installation was not successful or complete.
Please go back to Python Installation and try installing Python again according to the instructions for your operating system.
If something unexpected happened or you need help, please raise a hand and ask for a mentor support.
It is very important that this first step works for all of you.
If you are on Mac or Linux the python command will usually run python version 2 which is not what we want - if python3 works, perfect, if not, please try reinstalling the newest python or ask a mentor for help.
If you have the terminal ready don't waste time! Type print("Hello, world!") in the Python terminal!
Python can work as a simple calculator. Try running following commands in your Python and you should see these responses.
>>> 1
1
>>> 42 + 3
45
>>> -1.1 + 12
10.9
>>> 2/3
0.6666666666666666
>>> 3*5
15
>>> 2**4
16
>>> 1e3 + 222
1222.0
>>> -8.3 + 2
-6.300000000000001
>>> 15%4
3
>>> 10_000 + 155
10155
>>> 17//3
5
>>> 2 + 3 * 4
14
>>> (2+3) * 4
20
Python prints the greater-than signs >>> and the answer by itself!
You just write number and press Enter.
Notice that commands from the standard command line do not work here, although the window looks similar:
>>> whoami
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'whoami' is not defined
This is an error message which appears every time when you do anything wrong. You will see a lot of them during the course. Have a look at it carefully so you can recognise it later.
If you got this far, congratulations! You have installed Python and it works. You can now quit the Python console and close the command prompt.
To quit, just type exit() with empty parentheses
>>> exit()
$
The greater-than signs >>> change back to $ or >. This tells you that you're back on the system prompt. Now commands like whoami and cd work again, but Python commands like 1 + 2 won't work. You can re-activate the Python prompt anytime you want by simply typing python3
The terminal can be closed by typing exit or press CTRL+D.
$ exit
As a last exercise, try to run the Python console again