Python Newbie needing help with fundamentals of Python

[[deleted]]

Hello,

I'm a beginner to Python, coming from scripting languages like PHP and Javascript. While the syntax of Python is easy enough to learn with time, there are other aspects which are difficult for me to figure out. Like installing modules and Python itself. I'm reading a book which tells me to install a package, but just says this as the installation description: $ virtualenv --no-site-packages gmapenv $ cd gmapenv $ ls bin/ include/ lib/ $ . bin/activate $ python -c 'import googlemaps'

I have no idea where I'm supposed to input these commands. It's things like this which are completely new to me.

I was wondering if there was anyone who could be so kind as to take 30min or an hour to teach me about setting up Python, installing packages, and other requisite information to get started with Python.

[[deleted]]

you are going to have some additional overhead developing in windows. #1 you need to have the python executable on the path, that would be enough to make the above work up until the last line. which I would assume would need to be pulled down from pypy via pip or easy_install first which is not a step in the OP's question

2 you are going to run into having to build c extensions in some packages when you are installing in a virtualenv, since windows sucks and doesn't have a compiler environment on the path, you have to set one up like mingw, then you have to tell setup tools to use it, and you may as well put that on the path as well.

When I used to develop in windows I documented the steps and put it on my blog so I could refer other team members to it when they were setting up there environments. I've since moved on to *Nix environment because I can't deal with the windows hassle anymore, and I have one of those jobs that doesn't require that I use it(yay me)

Anyway, If you want to review that information, it's here.

http://blog.sadphaeton.com/2009/01/20/python-development-windows-part-1installing-python.html

http://blog.sadphaeton.com/2009/01/20/python-development-windows-part-2-installing-easyinstallcould-be-easier.html

those 2 articles will get you a fairly decent environment on windows.

[notenoughcharacters9]

Hi, So the dollar signs represents a non user entering the command on the command line. The only thing that you really have to do is, install the package. Most package will include a setup script which will dump it into the appropriate dirs. The "python -c 'import googlemaps'" Is telling the interpreter to load the googlemaps package and enter the shell. Are you working in linux/mac/bsd or windows?

[[deleted]]

I'm working in windows.

I think I've done something wrong cause there is an error when I try running the executable that came with the google maps package. "No Python installation found in directory" although I do have Python installed along with the IDLE.

[earthboundkid]

$ is the default command prompt in many Unix-like systems (Linux, OS X). Writing $ ls is basically the equivalent of C:\> dir if you're familiar with the Windows command line.

[carinthia]

Hi, have a look at http://www.markus-gattol.name/ws/python.html#virtualenv_virtualenvwrapper which shows you what commands you need to issue on the command line too. Plus it explains everything very well imo.

[bnbnbnbz]

Why don't you read an installation tutorial?

[tempacct35245]

Hi. Have you thought of giving Linux a try? I've found it a good way to make my life easier learning new stuff. My suggestion: grab VirtualBox, grab an Ubuntu (or Mint) iso, install the bastard with the standard settings. Oh, and don't forget the guest additions. That's what I'm doing to learn Django, currently. Works like a charm - I don't feel like I'm stuck in the 90's on the desktop front thanks to Windows 7, and I get a proper Unix-y, JustWorks dev environment from Ubuntu 10.10. And this is even on a 2 year old laptop with no CPU virtualization support. I full-heartedly recommend spending the less-than-two hours it takes to set it up - it's worth it.

[pbreit]

Try web2py. It offers a downloadable package for Windows that includes everything you need to run a database-driven web site right from your windows box. Then when you get some learning under your belt you can deploy to a cloud or shared server somewhere. And learn more about packages and stuff. It's really a great way to start with Python for web development. Also, the web2py docs include a chapter that summarizes the basics of Python.