Getting Up and Running with Python
When installing these programs, we suggest you simply follow the
default installation options.
YouTube video
of Prof. Astrachan installing Java, Eclipse, Pydev, EPD, and Ambient on
a Windows 7 laptop on September 7, 2010. It's hard to see the
font/words, you can
download the original video which is large, but shows the whole
screen in close to true size.
- Install Java
(any version late than 5.0 is fine)
- For this course, Java is only being installed to support running Eclipse
- Note, you do not need to complete this step if you are using a Mac (or have previously installed it on your system)
- Install Eclipse (we recommend downloading Classic 3.6)
- This is the program we will use to create our programs
- Eclipse is different than a typical program because it does not have use an installation program
- Instead you must unzip it yourself; we suggest you unzip it and move the resulting folder into your
C:\ (Windows) or Applications (Mac) folder
- Install Enthought Python Distribution
(we will use the freely available Academic version, but have mirrored it here so you do not have to register)
- This is the version of Python 2.6 we will use in the course
- Note, you should install this even if you are using a Mac (which may include a different version of Python)
- Install Pydev plug-in for Eclipse
- This connects Eclipse to the version of Python just installed
- When installing Pydev, only select PyDev for Eclipse to install (which is under the component PyDev when you add its URL)
- Also, remember to select that you trust the security certificate when it appears otherwise the install will not complete properly
- After installing this plug-in, you need to configure Eclipse to find Python by selecting the location where EPD was installed as your New interpreter
- On Windows, by default this is
C:\Python26\python.exe
- On Macs, by default this is
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/6.3/bin/python2.6
- Install Ambient plug-in for Eclipse
- This plug-in was developed by students at Duke and allows you to download and submit projects
- Follow the next steps for Eclipse 3.6.x:
- Open Eclipse and access the Help menu
- Select Install New Software...
- Create a new site by selecting Add..., entering Ambient for Name and http://www.cs.duke.edu/csed/ambient/update for Location
- Check the update site you just created and click Install
- Select the Ambient feature in next Wizard pane and click Finish
- Follow the next few steps to finish the installation
- It is recommended to restart the Eclipse workbench in order for the changes to take effect
