How to Install Python on Windows

1. Download Python
   • Go to the official Python website.
   • Click on the “Downloads” tab and choose the version for Windows (e.g., Python 3.x.x).
2. Run the Installer
   • Open the downloaded .exe file.
   • Important: Check the box for “Add Python to PATH” before clicking Install.
   • Follow the installation wizard to complete the setup.
3. Verify the Installation
   • Open the Command Prompt (CMD).
   • Type python --version or python to check the Python version.

     python --version
     

4. Install Pip (Optional)
   • Pip is usually included with Python. Verify it with:

     pip --version
     

     ---

     How to Install Python on macOS

5. Download Python
   • Go to the official Python website.
   • Click on the “Downloads” tab and select the macOS installer (.pkg).
6. Run the Installer
   • Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the installation instructions.
7. Verify the Installation
   • Open Terminal and type:

     python3 --version
     

   • Use python3 for Python 3.x because macOS might include an older Python 2.x version.
8. Install Pip (Optional)
   • Pip is included with Python 3.x. Confirm by typing:

     pip3 --version
     

     ---

     How to Install Python on Linux

9. Check Pre-installed Python
   • Most Linux distributions include Python by default. Check with:

     python3 --version
     

10. Install Python Using a Package Manager
    • For Ubuntu/Debian:

      sudo apt update
      sudo apt install python3 python3-pip
      

    • For CentOS/Fedora:

      sudo yum install python3
      

11. Compile Python from Source (Optional)
    • If you need the latest Python version, download the source code and compile it:

      sudo apt update
      sudo apt install -y build-essential zlib1g-dev libncurses5-dev libgdbm-dev libnss3-dev \
      libssl-dev libreadline-dev libffi-dev curl libsqlite3-dev wget     
      wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.x.x/Python-3.x.x.tar.xz
      tar -xf Python-3.x.x.tar.xz
      cd Python-3.x.x
      ./configure --enable-optimizations
      make
      sudo make altinstall
      

12. Verify the Installation
    • Run:

      python3 --version
      

      ---

      After Installation: Setting Up a Virtual Environment

      It’s a good practice to use virtual environments to manage dependencies for individual projects.

13. Create a Virtual Environment
    • Run:

      python3 -m venv myenv
      

14. Activate the Virtual Environment
    • On Windows:

      myenv\Scripts\activate
      

    • On macOS/Linux:

      source myenv/bin/activate
      

15. Deactivate the Virtual Environment
    • When done, run:

      deactivate