Getting Up and Running with Python
When installing these programs, we suggest you simply follow the
default installation options.
Here's a summary of installing the parts.
- Install Java
(Java 6 is fine, Java 7 ok on Windows). You may be able to skip this,
you should skip it on a Mac, it will be automatic.
- For this course, Java is only being installed to support running Eclipse
- Note, you do not need to complete this step if you are using a Mac (or have previously installed it on your system)
- Install
Eclipse (we recommend downloading Classic 4.2) but other
versions are fine.
- This is the program we will use to create our programs
- Eclipse is different than a typical program because it does not have use an installation program
- Instead you must unzip it yourself; we suggest you unzip it and move the resulting folder into your
C:\ (Windows) or Applications (Mac) folder
-
Install EPD, the
Enthought Python Distribution. We are using the freely available
academic version,
available Academic version, but will have mirrored it here so you do not have to register.
- This is the version of Python 2.7 we will use in the course
- Note, you should install this even if you are using a Mac (which may include a different version of Python)
- Install Pydev
plug-in for Eclipse
The key here is to use the Help>Install New Software
menu in Eclipse. Go to add, use the name pydev and
the website http://pydev.org/updates to install. You can
see this below, but the help/URL is all you need.
- This connects Eclipse to the version of Python just installed
- When installing Pydev, only select PyDev for Eclipse to install (which is under the component PyDev when you add its URL)
- Also, remember to select that you trust the security certificate when it appears otherwise the install will not complete properly
- After installing this plug-in, you need to configure
Eclipse to find EPD. You can follow these steps:
- Choose Windows>Preferences in windows. On a
mac choose Eclipse>Preferences
- Choose Pydev and Interpreter Python
- On Windows, by default this is
C:\Python27\python.exe
- On Macs, by default this is
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/7.3/bin/python
need to configure Eclipse to find Python by selecting the location where EPD was installed as your New interpreter
- Install Ambient plug-in for Eclipse
The steps below use Help>Install New Software menu
and the website http://www.c.duke.edu/csed/ambient/update.
- This plug-in was developed by students at Duke and allows you to download and submit projects
- Follow the next steps for Eclipse 3.6.x (or 4.2.x or higher):
- Open Eclipse and access the Help menu
- Select Install New Software...
- Create a new site by selecting Add..., entering Ambient for Name and http://www.cs.duke.edu/csed/ambient/update for Location
- Check the update site you just created and click Install
- Select the Ambient feature in next Wizard pane and click Finish
- Follow the next few steps to finish the installation
- It is recommended to restart the Eclipse workbench in order for the changes to take effect
