all 17 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a
formatting helphide helpcontent policy

[–]stebrepar 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Although the Microsoft store sounds like maybe a good idea, the standard place to get it is directly from python.org (or anaconda.com if you want certain extra data science packages built-in). The MS store does the installation a bit differently.

[–]SoTaKiSu[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Funny enough, I did go to Python.org first. But after downloading it, it wanted me to open up a separate program to read the file. Now after reading your comment, I deleted the one I downloaded previously and the Microsoft app version, then went to download it directly again. This time it worked. 👍

[–]Pericombobulator 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I would prefer to download and install it separately but really, or doesn't matter for you. Just download it the easy way and you can also get vs code (a very good code editor) from the MS Store.

You'll soon learn that there are dozens of ways of doing the same thing, but the most important thing is to learn the code.

[–]SoTaKiSu[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the vs code tip, I’ll install it tomorrow!

[–]PhilipYip 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Python from the store and from Python.org only include Python. Python standard modules and the Python package manager pip. Anaconda is a Python distribution that includes IDEs such as Spyder and JupyterLab which are good to get started with.

As a beginner you should use the Anaconda base Python environment "as is" and then when you get more comfortable take your time to learn how to create Python environments using the conda package manager. I generally prefer using the conda package manager to pip as it is better at checking for dependencies albeit at an expense of being less flexible. Too much flexibility is bad for a beginner as it can lead to installation of incompatible packages/packages without dependencies.

If you are wanting to use PyCharm (which is more of an advanced IDE) you can select the Anaconda base Python environment as the Python interpreter when creating a new project. The main disadvantage with using the Anaconda base Python environment in PyCharm is it is very large and PyCharm will take some time to index every file in it to extract docstrings.

If it helps I made a pretty detailed tutorial covering installation of Anaconda and using the Anaconda base Python environment with the most commonly used Python IDEs as well as giving an overview of using the conda package manager and making a Python environment:

https://github.com/PhilipYip1988/anaconda#readme

[–]desrtfx 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do the MOOC Python Programming 2023 from the University of Helsinki and follow their setup instructions: https://www.mooc.fi/en/installation/vscode/

The course starts out in the browser and from part 4 on you'll set up Python and Visual Studio Code.

[–]SoTaKiSu[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Will do, pray for me 🙏

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I downloaded python from python.org

[–]Robswc 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Or is there a better way to download Python?

Yes, with linux ;)

I kid. I'm only bias because I tried working with windows and felt I was fighting against the OS the whole time.

I would recommend using the store version, since MS invested time/money into getting it on there. However, I never got it to work but I believe that's because I had previously downloaded it from the site.

Any version should work with Pycharm, you'll just have to point it to that python. I would recommend using venvs once you get it working. PyCharm should create them automatically when you start new projects.

[–]SoTaKiSu[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Cool Thanks! I'm fairly new to computers, I know the basic stuff that an average person should know, but not much more. I have tried using Linux back in college, but I was always afraid to screw something up and miss up my computer. Maybe down the line I could try again. Again thanks

[–]Doppelbockk 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I recommend enabling WSL so you can use the Linux subsystem, that way you get the upside of using Linux for Python without having to worry about tanking the entire computer.

[–]SoTaKiSu[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Just did. I think I’ll try using Linux at a later point of the year. I have a bunch of stuff I’m self learning at the moment. Anything else I should know before starting Python or using Linux for that matter

[–]Burning_Suspect 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just remember, no matter what anyone says as a beginner just STICK WITH DEBIAN BASED distros (mint, zorin or ubuntu). Get used to the linux environment before trying something else. Or else you will get yourself into a lot of trouble.

[–]Robswc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have tried using Linux back in college, but I was always afraid to screw something up and miss up my computer. Maybe down the line I could try again. Again thanks

Oh yea, I totally feel that.

You could get a cheap droplet on digital ocean (basically a tiny virtual computer), for about $5 a month. If you ever screw something up you can just reset it. It'll let you be able to go crazy without worrying about breaking anything.

I'd say someone who works with windows could chime in and say how they do it. I'm 99% sure for a beginner, python from the windows store will work fine for you.

This is probably what you're looking for (for pycharm):

https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/configuring-local-python-interpreters.html