🔒 How do I install Python?

[ivory fjord]

Hello! I'm a newcomer to coding in general, I'm currently watching Mosh Hamedani's beginner's guide to python, link to it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqtD5dpn9C8

I've currently struck across my first problem in the journey, I don't know how to install Python for Windows. There's a customized installation option and an "Install Now" option, and I'm not sure if I need all the things that come with the full installation of the software, two screenshots have been attached to show all the different tools the software comes with.

[frank dagger]

@ivory fjord

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[daring gate]

The important one for you to tick is "Add python.exe to PATH", otherwise you can leave the default values for everything else

[sweet beacon]

you can also customize the install location to something closer to the root of the drive if you want easier access to the interpreter

e.g., c:\Python312

but the default options are okay, and adding Python to PATH is pretty useful

[ivory fjord]

I'll download PyCharm as my IDE

will it matter if the interpreter is close to the root of the drive after setting it up?

[sweet beacon]

Not really, PyCharm and the like can detect where it is automatically. But it can be useful to know exactly where it is and be able to get to it from the command line.

The default Windows install options also include a utility called py that makes it easy to launch Python without needing to know where it is (you can specify a version, if you have multiples)

[ivory fjord]

I have to open the terminal to do that right?

Which can be done with and without an IDE I'm assuming?

[sweet beacon]

yes - you can do terminal work inside an IDE, or outside it using the regular system terminal

[ivory fjord]

I'm currently installing PyCharm, and even with the default installation it's presented me with a host of different options, which ones should I pick?

[wicked spoke]

select everything

[ivory fjord]

@sweet beacon

[sweet beacon]

yes, select all those options

[ivory fjord]

Thank you!

[frank dagger]

Python help channel closed

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