[Tutor] PYTHON installation problem

[Alan Gauld]

On 25/11/2022 14:20, Edgar Byaruhanga wrote:

> I have attached screenshots of messages

As Mats has already pointed out the tutor list does not accept binary
attachments such as screenshots because they present a security risk.
Please copy/paste the text of any error messages or code etc within
yoiur mail message.

> I keep getting when I try to download python on my laptop
>  – (windows 10, intel 5, 64-bit cpu, chrome browser)

Where are you trying to download from - a URL please?

> I tried to find python 3.9 in my system but couldn’t – not 
> sure why or what happened to it, since I don’t remember uninstalling it!
> 
> Please advise what the likely problem is and how I can fix it.

That's really an OS issue on your system and without access to the
machine it's impossible for us to suggest much. It sounds like it has
been uninstalled somehow. I'd focus on getting the current version
installed. There are 3 places you can try:
1) python.org - recommended
2) Windows store - usually a version behind current but that's not
a problem - it may be the simplest option.
3) ActiveState.com - they do a Windows specific bundle with improved
help system and programming tools. This is the version I usually
recommend for Windows users.

4) There are a couple of online Python interpreters which are
fine when starting out. They let you type code into a web page
and run it. I've used:

https://www.online-python.com

But there are several others.


>   1.  Also as a separate but slightly related issue – can I 
technically download python onto a usb stick/drive, then then
install it onto a laptop which isn’t connected to the internet?
I want a wall/vacuum between what I program and the internet!

It's technically possible and there are some web pages and Youtube
videos shhowing how to set it up, but its not trivial. And it brings
its own set of limitations so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.

>   2.  I am not if this is relevant or within your remit but – I 
> was looking into what I believe are called ‘’text editors’’, 

Programming text editors are a very personal subject and can result
in "flame wars" breaking out. For beginners it's not too important
and any basic programming editor will do. so long as it saves in
plain text and not HTML or a binary format like "rich text" or
MS Word.

Standard Python comes with a basic but effective one called IDLE
which is itself written in Python. The activestate.com bundle
includes pythonwin.exe which is a more Windows-like editor.

Other recommendations for windows users include:
Notepad++
PyCharm(more powerful, and more complex)
Microsoft VisualCode editor. (Very powerful and very windows-like)
Netbeans or Eclipse(much more powerful and complicated)

There are others, and if you have a Unix background vi/vim/elvis
or emacs have Python modes too. But if you don't already know them
I'd stick with the options above. But do try IDLE first, it may be
all you ever need!

> ...I saw programs like, sublime, Atom, Visual studio, Vin, etc. 

There are literally hundreds of programmers editors (or IDEs).
Some swear by one while others swear at it. It is a very prersonal
choice and you are best to just try a few and seee what suits
you best. At the beginner level they all offer the ability to
create files, syntax colour them, offer suggestions and
auto-layout the code. Its only when you get into working
with multiple files and bigger files that the differences
become significant.

-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
http://www.amazon.com/author/alan_gauld
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