How to set up Python Dev Environment on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Setting up a Python development environment is an essential step for getting started with Python programming. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of setting up Python on three major operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Setting Up Python on Windows

Step 1: Download Python Installer

To begin, download the Python installer for Windows from the official Python website. Choose the appropriate version for your system (32-bit or 64-bit) and download the executable installer.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Once the installer is downloaded, double-click on it to run the installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Python on your Windows machine.

Step 3: Set Python Path

After the installation is complete, you need to set the Python executable path as an environment variable. This allows you to run Python from any command prompt or terminal window. Here's how to set the Python path: 

1. Open the Start menu and search for 'Environment Variables'.
2. Select 'Edit the system environment variables'.
3. In the System Properties window, click on 'Environment Variables'.
4. Under 'System variables', find the 'Path' variable and click 'Edit'.
5. Add the path to the Python executable (e.g., 'C:\Python39\') to the list of paths.
6. Click 'OK' to save the changes.

Python is now installed on your Windows system. You can open a command prompt and type 'python' to verify the installation.

Setting Up Python on macOS

Step 1: Install Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install software. Open the Terminal application and run the following command to install Homebrew: 

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

Step 2: Install Python

Once Homebrew is installed, you can use it to install Python. Run the following command in the Terminal: 

brew install python

Python is now installed on your macOS system. You can open a Terminal window and type 'python' to verify the installation.

Setting Up Python on Linux

Step 1: Check Python Version

Many Linux distributions come with Python pre-installed. To check if Python is already installed on your system and determine the version, open a Terminal and run the following command: 

python --version

Step 2: Install Python

If Python is not already installed or you need a different version, you can install it using your distribution's package manager. Here are the commands for popular package managers: 

- Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt-get install python
- Fedora: sudo dnf install python
- Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S python

Python is now installed on your Linux system. You can open a Terminal and type 'python' to verify the installation.