Windows: Installing Python 2.6

If you have an older version of Python installed, be sure to uninstall it first. You can use these instructions.

The Enthought Python Distribution has all of the packages we need for the class ... and many more.

Basic Windows Install:

Upgrade to the most recent version of XP or Windows 7.
Go to the Enthought Python Distribution page. Click on the Download Now button. Click on Academic, select the Windows installer, and give your name and email address. Click on the Download button. Then wait ... this is a large download (> 250 MB). Save the file.
Once the download is complete, the installer should start automatically. (If not, find the downloaded file (Desktop?) and double click to start the install.)
Work through the steps presented by EPD Setup. For example, select the Academic license option.

What got installed

PyLab and MayaVi short-cuts were installed on your Desktop.

Python

Let's test the installation.

iPython is a very convenient shell in which to develop and run Python. Its manual is here.

Let's test it by double-clicking on the Pylab desktop short cut. You should see something like:

Enthought Python Distribution -- http://code.enthought.com

Python 2.6.4 |EPD 6.1-1 (32-bit)| (r264:75706, Nov 11 2009, 19:42:36) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 0.10 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

  Welcome to pylab, a matplotlib-based Python environment.
  For more information, type 'help(pylab)'.

Python Scientific Computing

Let's briefly check to see if the packages we need are there. Type in the following responses to the iPython prompts (In [...]:), hitting return at the end of each line:

In [1]: import scipy

In [2]: import numpy

In [3]: import Scientific

In [4]: import Image

In [5]: import pyglet

In [6]: import enthought.mayavi

In [7]:

In each case, the package was found and a new prompt returned. So the EPD install worked.

Hit Ctrl-D to exit:

Do you really want to exit ([y]/n)? y

You can change IPython's default text editor (NotePad) to your favorite editor, or one that is at least more functional, by following these instructions.

NotePad++

One particularly functional and free editor is NotePad++. Take a look at these instructions to see how to install and configure it to work with Python.

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