Helping Windows first time users

[Pieter van Oostrum]

boB Stepp <robertvstepp at gmail.com> writes:

> On Wed, Apr 15, 2020 at 2:04 PM Barry Scott <barry at barrys-emacs.org> wrote:
>>
>> I post some suggestion to improve the Python installer for Windows
>> to better sign post users on the next steps.
>>
>> https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-ideas@python.org/message/TKHID7PMKN5TK5QDQ2BL3G45FYAJNYJX/
>>
>> It also seems like we could do with drafting the text of a helpful
>> reply to help the Windows first time users. This would help folks that
>> reply to the Windows first time users to have a quick way to reply
>> without drafting the text a reply every time.
>>
>> What are your thoughts on the installer changes and reply text?
>
> I wonder if the last screen of the installer should have a checkbox,
> checked by default, that launches IDLE.  IDLE would then display a
> helpful text file on this first launch describing how to use IDLE, how
> to find and launch it again, etc.  As well have it describe all of the
> help you are advocating here as well.  It would be a minor annoyance
> for experienced users to have to uncheck the box before clicking
> finish, but I think it might have a good chance of getting new users
> off to a reliable start.  Many other Windows program installers are
> setup similarly to launch the program being installed.  This is a
> little different as IDLE is not Python, but that is a minor quibble, I
> think.

Or just display a short HTML page describing the first steps to start
using Python. It could mention the command line (py) to be used with a
text editor (some recommendations) and IDLE. And how not to double click
.py files :)
-- 
Pieter van Oostrum
www: http://pieter.vanoostrum.org/
PGP key: [8DAE142BE17999C4]