Python Installation

Python version 2 or 3?

Tip

Recommendation: Both

  • Develop your coding habbits in Python 3; it’s not going away.
  • Keep 2.7 around; you can’t kill it, it’s immortal. [1]
  • If your code’s going public consider supporting both.
[1]Despite claims that Python 2’s scheduled End Of Life date (EOL, sunset date) is in 2020.

See also

Should I use Python 2 or Python 3 for my development activity?

Python 32 or 64-bit version?

Tip

Recommendation: 32-bit, unless ...

  • You’re willing to trade away memory for performance (64-bit can consume up twice the memory).
  • You work with really large data sets and need access to more than 4GB of system memory.

Install Python

Install Python 2.7

Double-click on the Python 2.7 MSI that you downloaded to launch the installer, and click the “Next” button at each screen to accept the default settings.

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Note

At this point you may see a Windows pop-up dialog box, “Do you want to allow this application install software on your PC?” If the “Verified Publisher” is set to “Python Software Foundation” then click the “Yes” button.

See also

User Account Control

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Click “Finish” to complete the Python 2.7 installation.

Install Python 3.5

Double-click on the Python 3.5 executable (.exe) that you downloaded to launch the installer.

Note

On the first screen make sure to check the “Add Python 3.5 to PATH” checkbox.

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Click on the “Install Now” section to begin.

Note

At this point you may see a Windows pop-up dialog box, “Do you want to make change to your PC?” If the “Verified Publisher” is set to “Python Software Foundation” then click the “Yes” button.

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Click “Finish”

Congratulations!

You have now installed both Python 2 & 3.