A beginner's guide to setting up Python on Windows

Great tutorial -- but this is exactly why we built Action.IO, so you don't have to deal with these long posts. We have preconfigured Python boxes that you can start coding on with your web browser, with full Linux terminal access.<p>The unfortunate part of setting up Python on Windows, is that you're still coding on Windows and missing out on using and learning powerful Linux/Unix tools. Most servers operate using Linux, so having the same environment in development is a huge advantage.<p>If you need an invite, just signup and send us an email at hello at action dot io

I prefer to install the 64-bit Python 2.7.4, then use the pre-built packages for Win64 at <a href="http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/</a> . I primarily use Python for scientific calculations, plus a little bit of web development, and I have chosen the following packages: Base, NumPy, SciPy, MySQL-Python, Mathplotlib. (NOTE: "Base" is a bundled collection of Python packages you will find at the above site; it is not a package that you will find at the official PyPI repository.) I also installed pip, but since I am behind a corporate firewall and have another program named "pip" (part of Strawberry Perl), it was a bit tricky.

I also have to disagree with quite a bit of this guide. Most windows systems are configured to simply do a `pip install numpy` since they often are missing the specific compiling tools to properly install these packages. For Windows vets, we've probably all seen the "Unable to find vcvarsall.bat" at one point or another.<p>I've found the easiest way it to point to 3rd party installers that often already have the key c-based tools you'll most often use. PythonXY, WinPython, PortablePython or Continuum's Anaconda. But you have to take the "bloat" with many of these, although PythonXY and WinPython allow you to select what you want and don't want.

I'm not a Windows user, but I'd probably suggest trying <a href="https://www.enthought.com/products/canopy/" rel="nofollow">https://www.enthought.com/products/canopy/</a> (formerly the enthought python distribution EPD) for a relatively hassle-free setup with numpy and other scientific packages. It also works on linux and mac, but I usually go with repository versions on linux.<p>Other comments suggest <a href="https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda" rel="nofollow">https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda</a> which I haven't tried to compare, but also looks promising.

Doesn't windows have a standard windows installer for python? Why are we still teaching beginners Python 2.7? What is wrong with python 3?

I found Anaconda (<a href="https://store.continuum.io/" rel="nofollow">https://store.continuum.io/</a>) to be the easiest way to get people setup with Python on nearly any system. It has the added benefit of bundling ipython, pip and numpy which is notoriously a huge pain to get working on Windows and Mac OS X.

If you're in a position where you need to follow a guide to install Python on Windows, then you're probably so new to Python that you're unlikely to be working with legacy code. Therefore, I'd suggest working with Python 3 and using 64-bit.

The R guys do a really easy to use package of mingw for satisfying compiler / linker requirements youll find you need (and all the other bits and bobs required).<p>Another thing worth mentioning is "user site packages" directory for those on locked down corporate machines. Pip install --user &#60;package&#62; will pop the package in %UserProfile%\Python\Python2X\site-packages\ - which is automatically on your $PYTHONPATH saving a little setup hassle.

Will numpy actually cleanly install with `pip` or `easy_install` on a system that doesn't have the proper version of Visual Studio? If so, that's news to me.

This isn't much better than what Zed Shaw's book has for instuctions. Consider some screen shots, using Enthoughts or Continuum disributions, etc...

I really don't understand why you'd use Windows for Python development unless you need to regularly use Creative Suite, mostly use Visual Studio/.NET and just do Python on the side, or for some reason play AAA games while you are working.

I usually kickoff with the ActiveState download on windows <a href="http://www.activestate.com/activepython/downloads" rel="nofollow">http://www.activestate.com/activepython/downloads</a> its a nice bundle with good help docs etc.

for me it is better run python behind cygwin, a linux guy on python feels more confortable

install linux...

Or better , fire a virtual machine with linux. I used to develop python and php on windows only to get loads of problems as soon as i had to deploy my script on a linux server. Having a dev and test environment that is close to the production server will save you a lot of time. Working on linux is a great experience, and makes a difference when looking for a job.<p>Whatever os you choose you just cant get wrong learning python , it is so awesome.

I understand that a lot of people prefer and/or are stuck with Windows, but people who can't or won't move beyond that just are not likely to get much utility out of Python.<p>If you're looking to learn it for any actual, practical application, e.g. any kind of development that will be deployed on the web or any kind of native system scripting, spending time setting it up on Windows is a waste of time you will need to spend at some point anyway learning to use an operating system that's actually suitable for such a purpose.<p>It's good that Windows users have the option of installing Python, I suppose, but something like this seems aimed at people who either are not actually going to do anything with or learn anything from it or are likely to simply give up after hitting the quirks and limitations of the platform.<p>A far more useful article that would accomplish the same purpose more effectively would be on setting up a free virtualization environment in Windows, then pointing people to the normal doc on using Python in some flavor of Linux.