How to get started with Python?

Python is described as an easy language, easy to learn and simple to use. Python allows you to create powerful software for a wide range of applications. It can be just as hard to get started in Python as any other programming language. Each choice you make will affect the OS, Python runtime, editor, or IDE that you use to code your code.

This article will walk you through the various Python distributions and the best options among development environments. We’ll also talk about the support tools you need for your Python workspaces, such as code formatters and project templates. We hope to help you avoid the common pitfalls when creating a Python programming environment.

Choose your Python platform.

The operating system you choose to use for your development environment will determine how you start with Python. You can use Python on all major operating systems, and there are also good Python editors and environments that you can use to develop Python code.

Microsoft Windows: Although Python is not included by default, adding Python requires only downloading a runtime file and clicking a few buttons. The VS Code for Windows is a great choice, and it’s a fantastic idea! You can get the latest Python version by simply typing Python in the Extension section at the VS Code.

Linux: Python is an included package in almost every major Linux distribution. It is up to you whether you will be able to install the latest version of Python by default. For good reasons, some Linuxes include an older version of Python, and python scripts written for this distribution might depend on an older version of Python.

You may have to use the package manager to install a different version of Python. The pyenv program allows you to choose which version of Python to use to avoid conflicts with the one you have already installed. You can also set a Python version to be used in a particular project.

MacOS: MacOS has a similar situation to Linux, with a few exceptions. First, Python 2.7.10 is the only preinstalled Python version on MacOS 10.11. Homebrew is required to install Python 3. To manage your Python 3 installation, you might also use pyenv.

You can use a Docker container that contains a Python runtime to create a project if you already have Docker installed. This is the best option if you plan to deploy the app via Docker eventually.

Python Distribution

Python can be downloaded in a variety of distributions or repackaging. Different Python distributions can be used for different purposes, just as different Linux distributions can satisfy different use cases.

Note: This isn’t an exhaustive listing of Python distributions. Many other options are available with similar usage cases; however, these are the most well-known and most commonly utilized.

Python: This is the standard Python runtime developed through the Python Software Foundation, and it is the version with the most universal-purpose capabilities of Python. Alongside the interpreter and the basic library, it includes an array of third-party software commonly included in the Python interpreter (e.g., binary libraries for SQLite).

Note: CPython does not have technical support that is available directly. It does include a method for integrating third-party software known as pip. Still, larger and more complex programs — particularly ones for Windows with binary dependencies — can be difficult to run using it.

ActivePython: ActiveState offers an assortment of enterprise-grade and commercial runtimes for languages and IDEs. ActivePython contains the base CPython runtime and comes preinstalled with a plethora of third-party libraries widely utilized across various disciplines, which means it will require less thumb-wrestling than CPython to get those features working. ActivePython additionally provides performance enhancements for several Python’s science and math libraries through Intel Math Kernel Library. Intel Math Kernel Libraries.

There is no need to spend money to get access to ActivePython. The distribution is available in three variants that include a no-cost Community Edition (no support) and a Business Edition (support, some advantages) and the Enterprise Edition (support, legal indemnification, and many other perks). Potential enterprise users can start at the bottom of the ladder and move upwards to determine whether ActivePython is the right choice for their needs.

PyPy: A drop-in alternative to CPython, The main difference between PyPy and CPython is that it speeds up Python applications using a JIT (just within time) compiler. The speedups may be significant and on several hundreds of times the speed. However, the gains in performance are most noticeable in applications that run for a long time instead of, for instance, automatized scripts that run and stop.

Anaconda: One of Python’s big use cases is math and statistics–engineering, data analysis, machine learning. A few Python distributions have come up dedicated to these uses. Continuum Analytics Anaconda is among the most popular and widely used. Similar to ActivePython, it comes with several commonly used Python libraries for statistics and maths and makes use of Intel-optimized versions of math libraries when it is it is. Anaconda is also a self-hosted installer to manage libraries from third parties, making it simpler to keep the software up-to-date by managing their dependencies on binary files.

Select Python IDE

In principle, you won’t require anything other than the text editor and Python runtime to create software using Python. In actual use, an IDE that has Python support can come in helpful when creating anything more than a basic script.

If you’re currently developing software using an IDE, You can use it for Python programming. The most popular IDEs come with strong Python support:

Microsoft IDEs – Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code–provide excellent Python support via extensions, which means that anyone who has an existing workflow built on top of the IDEs must install the necessary extensions.

Eclipse –  Eclipse is extensively used for Java and other languages and supports Python via extensions. Alternately, you can use LiClipse, an extension of an Eclipse IDE with various Python-supporting add-ons that are preinstalled and ready to start.

Sublime Text – Many MacOS users have praised Sublime Text for its speed, efficiency and power. And it also has Python support, and sublime Text even comes with the ability to integrate a Python interpreter. Additionally, several plug-ins have been written in Python, making it easy for Python developers to enhance their workflow using Sublime Text.

PyCharm – PyCharm is a product from JetBrains that is widely praised, and it’s easy to understand the reasons. It works with many tools native to the Python community (e.g., Jupyter notebooks); however, it also aims to make these tools more accessible and simple.

IDLE – IDLE bundled with CPython is suitable for tossing together quick scripts and helping those new to the language get their bearings.

Select Python Packages

In the case of a distributive, such as ActivePython or Anaconda, many popular 3rd-party Python libraries are preinstalled or accessible using a tool to download additional libraries via the IDE maker’s repository. It can be more difficult when you’re running CPython or a different distribution that does not offer these kinds of features, including third-party libraries.

The Python Software Foundation maintains a huge repository of third-party libraries, known as the Python Package Index (PyPI). Every package included in PyPI can be added to the Python installation via the command-line tool pip. However, certain packages require binaries designed for specific platforms; however, not every package included in PyPI comes with binaries that are compatible with all platforms. This isn’t a problem with Linux that generally permits these binaries to be constructed in a flash; however, it’s more difficult to achieve this on Windows.

For Windows!

For specific types of Python projects, Windows users will need to do some manual work compared to those using Linux, MacOS, and other Unix-based systems. A common element required from Windows developers is a C compiler, and a windows developer is the C compiler. Python will need a C compiler for certain applications to build specific modules if those modules don’t come with binary formats. Cython can translate Python to C code requires a C compiler to build functional binaries.

Keep Python code clean.

The majority of languages offer a way to carry out code linting and syntax standardization. In Python, there’s a set of packages that handle this task. Each of the major IDEs offers some form that integrates support with these packages, so you should consider adding them to your toolbox.

The rules that govern Python syntax are codified in a paper called PEP 8. If you’d like to apply those guidelines to a particular codebase, the program autopep8 can do the job. It tidies up Python code to be consistent with PEP 8 and returns warnings for particular lines requiring developers to pay attention. Most IDEs with Python support can utilize autopep8 as their default formatter for code.