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How to install Python

Learn how to install Python on different platforms (MacOS, Windows, Ubuntu and CentOS), a step-by-step guide

Python can be easily installed on these operating systems, and I'll walk you through the process for each one.


✅ Installing Python on MacOS​

MacOS comes with a pre-installed version of Python 2.x. To install Python 3, you can follow these steps:

Open Terminal​

Go to the "Applications" folder, then open the "Utilities" folder, and finally, open the "Terminal" app.

Install Homebrew (if not already installed)​

If you don't have Homebrew installed, you can install it by running the following command in the Terminal:

$ /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Install Python 3​

Use Homebrew to install Python 3 by running:

$ brew install python@3

Verify Installation​

To check if Python 3 is installed, type:

$ python3 --version

✅ Installing Python on Windows​

Download Python​

  • Open a web browser and go to the official Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
  • You will see the latest stable version of Python available for Windows. Choose the version you want to install. It's recommended to download the latest version (e.g., Python 3.8.7).
  • Scroll down to the "Files" section and select the installer that matches your system architecture (usually 64-bit for modern systems).

Run the Installer​

Once the installer is downloaded, double-click on it to run it.

Configure Python Installation​

  • Check the box that says "Add Python X.X to PATH" during installation (replace "X.X" with the version number).
  • Click the "Customize installation" button if you want to customize the installation location or components. For most users, the default settings are fine.

Install Python​

Click the "Install Now" button to start the installation.

Verify Installation​

  • Open the Command Prompt by searching for "cmd" or "Command Prompt" in the Start menu.
  • Type python --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version.

✅ Installing Python on Ubuntu​

Python is pre-installed on most versions of Ubuntu. However, you can follow these steps to ensure you have the latest version or to install it if it's missing.

Open the Terminal:​

Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window.

Update Package Lists​

Run the following command to update the package lists:

$ sudo apt update

Install Python​

To install Python 3, run:

$ sudo apt install python3

Verify Installation:​

To check if Python 3 is installed, type:

$ python3 --version

✅ Installing Python on CentOS​

Open the terminal in CentOS, by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or search for "Terminal" in the Applications menu.

Update Package Lists​

Before installing Python, it's a good practice to update your system's package lists. Run the following command:

$ sudo yum update

Install Python​

CentOS typically comes with Python 2.x pre-installed. To install Python 3, run the following command:

$ sudo yum install python3

Verify Installation​

To check if Python 3 is installed, type:

$ python3 --version

Installing PIP (Optional)​

To install pip for Python 3, you can use the following command:

$ sudo yum install python3-pip

Verify PIP (Optional)​

To check if pip is installed, you can use the following command:

$ pip3 --version

You've successfully installed Python on Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS. You can now start using Python for your programming needs on each of these operating systems.

✅ Resources​