How to install Python on Windows

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It's a relatively straightforward process to install Python on Windows. The hardest part is simply waiting for the 26 Mb file to download.

How to install Python on Windows

To install Python on Windows 11, follow these simple steps:

  1. Download the Python installation file from Python.org.
  2. Run the installer and accept the license agreement.
  3. Choose to add python.exe to your operating system's PATH.
  4. Accept all of the default options.
  5. Click Finish when the installation completes.

Get started with Python

The default Python install on Windows 11 comes packed with a variety of helpful tools and features.

After a you successfully install Python on Windows, you should test out Python's built-in REPL tools and run some code in Python's Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE) tool.

Other tools packaged inside a default Python install include the following:

  • PiP, the Preferred Installer Program.
  • Tkinter for GUI program development.
  • The Python test suite.
  • The py launcher to make it easier to start Python.
The default Python install features.
The default Python install on Windows 11 includes a variety of helpful tools, including PiP, IDLE and tkinter.

Next steps for Python developers

It's highly recommended to play around with those tools, run a simple Python Hello World program and see what a basic Python install has to offer.

However, all serious Python development happens in an IDE, so the next step after installing Python is to add an IDE such as PyCharm, Visual Studio Code or an Atom-based editor to your tool chain. A good IDE makes the development of your first few Python programs much more enjoyable.

Cameron McKenzie has been a Java EE software engineer for 20 years. His current specialties include Agile development; DevOps; Spring; and container-based technologies such as Docker, Swarm and Kubernetes.

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