Installing Anaconda and Python

Before you jump into the Python ocean, you need to set up the required software and tools. In this course, we will use the Anaconda platform, Jupyter Notebook as an integrated development environment (IDE), and definitely Python programming language. As I mentioned in the previous lesson, Python is a cross-platform language that can be run on all major platforms. There is no difference between you are using a MacBook or a Windows machine, both machines are able to run your program as long as both have Python installed.

What is Anaconda?

Anaconda is a free, open-source Python and R distribution software. It provides everything you need to build your data analytics/science application. Anaconda provides three crucial features for us:

• Python language and libraries
• A package manager (condo)
• Jupyter Notebook I will discuss the extensive package libraries and package manager in later lessons. Let’s see what Jupyter Notebook is and why we need it.

What is Jupyter Notebook?

As I mentioned, Jupyter Notebook is an open-source integrated development environment (IDE) that allows us to write runnable code, rich texts, math equations, and visualizations in a single document that can be shared with others.

How to install Anaconda

To install Anaconda on your computer, you need to visit the following link and download the installation package. Anaconda Individual Edition

Run the installer; after you download the installation package, you will be guided through the steps necessary to install Anaconda.

After you are done with the installation process, you can find Anaconda Navigator and run it. Through this window, you can run Jupyter Notebook.

It is possible to run Jupyter Notebook through the command shell or terminal. The only thing that you need to do writing jupyter-notebook in the command prompt.

$ jupyter-notebook

In the next lesson, you will learn how to use Jupyter Notebook and write your first Python program.

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