pip and command line

[Terry Reedy]

On 3/10/2018 12:23 PM, GISDude wrote:
> Hi all,
> I'm hoping someone could help a wannabe python coder out. I'm an aspiring Data/AI/ML coder/programmer/datafiend - that might help with my situation.
> 
> In my various fits of python downloads, I've managed to download Anaconda, 

Anaconda is a cpython distribution that comes with various 3rd party 
modules pre-installed.

> Pyscripter,

I am not familiar with this.

> IDLE(3.6/32 AND 64bit), IDLE 2.7.

If you are on Windows, you did not download 'IDLE'.  You downloaded 
various versions of CPython from PSF that include the corresponding 
versions of IDLE, with its integrated shell and editor, but not the 3rd 
party modules included with Anaconda.

If you are just starting with Python, and do not work somewhere that 
uses 2.7, I would ignore 2.7.  Unless you absolutely need the 32 bit 
version, I delete it.

> I'm having a problem using pip:
> 1. Does one have to use pip in the commandline?

Yes, use command line programs in a command line console/window.

> Why can't I use pip while in IDLE

Would you expect to use pip in MS Excel?  If you type 'python' at a 
command line, and get the '>>>' REPL prompt (google REPL), then your 
input goes to the python interpreter, which only accepts python 
statements.  The same is true in the IDLE Shell, and when you run python 
code in the editor.

[Some 3rd party IDEs have a front end for PIP. I wanted to add this for 
IDLE but the project was vetoed when partly done.]

> 2. For some unknown reason, I have "defaulted" to use IDLE python 3.6, 32 bit version.

The order of installation, choices you made during installation, and how 
you start python.  (With just one python installed, there would be no 
problem.)  Read the first chapter of 
https://docs.python.org/3/using/index.html and the chapter for your OS 
(which you should have specified ;-)

-- 
Terry Jan Reedy