Welcome to the Python course at IBM.

We will be using Python 2.7 along with these tools:

• The IPython interactive environment
• The pytest unit testing framework

• Install the Python prerequisites:

sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo pip install ipython pytest

• Test if it works:

ipython

The easiest method is to install ActivePython with PyPM.

Note: Even if you have a 64-bit version of Windows, please install the 32-bit version of ActivePython. The 64-bit version is known to be problematic.

• Install ActivePython from http://www.activestate.com/activepython/downloads
• Open the Windows command prompt, and then:

pypm -g install pyreadline
pypm -g install ipython
pypm -g install pytest

• Test if it works by running IPython from the Windows menu or from the PyPM command prompt.

• Most standard programmer's editors support Python out of the box: Vim, Emacs, Sublime etc.
• Eclipse supports Python with the PyDev plugin. You can also use the pre-packaged Aptana Studio environment if you don't have Eclipse installed yet.

• Python booklet in Hebrew: http://cyber.org.il/python/python.pdf
• Python Documentation: http://docs.python.org/
• Python Tutorial: http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/index.html
• Python Package Index (PyPI): http://pypi.python.org/pypi
• Python static analysis tools: pyflakes (simple), pylint, pychecker

To get tab completion to work in the regular Python interactive shell, add the following lines to the file ~/.pythonrc.py (create it first if it doesn't exist):

try:
    import readline
except ImportError:
    print("Module readline not available.")
else:
    import rlcompleter
    readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")

In addition, add the following line to your ~/.bashrc file:

export PYTHONSTARTUP=~/.pythonrc.py

Have fun!

Gavrie Philipson