How to set up Python

1   Install Python

First and foremost, you need to install Python of course.

1. Download the latest version of the installer from https://www.python.org/downloads/. Please use the recommended download (e.g., python-3.9.7-amd64.exe).
2. Run the installer.
3. Don’t install launcher for all users. You cannot use this option as a non-admin user.
4. Add Python 3.9 to PATH. This option will make your life a little bit easier later.
5. Customize installation.
6. Next.
7. Customize install location.
8. Change the installation path to C:\Python39.
9. Install.
10. Close.

2   Install NumPy

Now, your Python is ready. Let’s install the NumPy package using pip. NumPy provides fundamental tools for scientific computing with Python.

1. Hit Win + R.
2. Type cmd.

3. pip install numpy

3   Upgrade pip

I’m getting a warning message about the pip version. It’s optional, but let’s upgrade pip.

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

4   Install Matplotlib

Matplotlib is a plotting package for Python.

pip install matplotlib

5   Install JupyterLab

JupyterLab is the next generation of Jupyter, a language-agnostic web-based notebook that supports Python and other languages. Installing JupyterLab will install Jupyter and IPython, an interactive shell for Python.

pip install jupyterlab

Run it:

jupyter-lab

It will start a local web server from where you started it and open a new tab in the browser. Avoid running it from C:\ unless you’re an admin because non-admin users cannot create files in C:\.

If you want to kill this JupyterLab instance, hit Ctrl+C from the command window. Remember, it “kills” JupyterLab, so you want to save all your work first.

You can try Jupyter:

jupyter notebook

It looks similar to JupyterLab, but it will open new browser tabs for new notebooks unlike JupyterLab that implements its own tabbing environment.

Let’s try IPython as well:

ipython

6   How to create .py files

You do have JupyterLab set up, right? In each cell, you type your code and Shift + Enter to run it. If the code works fine and you’re ready to save your code as a .py file, copy the content of that cell into an editor and save it as a new file.

How to copy a cell?

1. Ctrl + A: to select all the content in a cell or use the mouse to select everything
2. Ctrl + C: to copy the selected content into the clipboard
3. Open an editor
4. Ctrl + V: to paste the copied content

Please try this:

1. Start JupyterLab
2. Start a new Python 3 Notebook
3. Type:

   x = 12
   print(x)

4. Shift + Enter
5. That runs, right?
6. Click the cell again
7. Ctrl + A
8. Ctrl + C
9. Open an editor
10. Ctrl + V in the editor

Here, Ctrl + or Shift + means push Ctrl or Shift and hold then press whatever key that follows +.

7   Homework: Show me your JupyterLab

Set up your Python environment by following the above instructions and start JupyterLab.

1. Create a new Python 3 Notebook.
2. Type this code in a cell:

   name = "FirstLastname"
   print("Hello " + name)

3. Run it by hitting Shift+Enter.
4. Take a screenshot of the result and submit it in FirstLastname_JupyterLab.png.