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Installing Python
Installing Python
Aside from installing Python from the source code, it comes prepackaged as binary for most of the OS. Below pointers to install Python.
Windows
Just go to the Python download page (http://www.python.org/download/) and choose Python 2.5 Windows Installer. By default Python will be installed in the directory C:Python25.
Linux
Python is included in all main Linux distributions by default. Refer to your package install instructions to install it if it is not already in your system.
Mac OS X
Mac OS X comes with Python 2.3 installed, but you will want to use Python 2.4 or later. There are several ways of getting these:
- Fink Project (http://finkproject.org/). This is probably the best if you are used to Linux. Together with Python and all additional packages you can install a whole load of unix tools.
- PythonMac (http://pythonmac.org/packages/)
Additional Packages
Below some packages which are very useful and every astronomer thinking in using Python should install.
- IPython (http://ipython.scipy.org) is an enhanced interactive shell for Python. Recommended.
- numpy (http://scipy.org) is used to work with numeric arrays in Python. This is an essential package.
- numarray (http://www.stsci.edu/resources/software_hardware/numarray) is being replaced by numpy but it is still good to have around.
- pyfits (http://www.stsci.edu/resources/software_hardware/pyfits) is a module to work with fits images and tables.
- matplotlib (http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/) to produce plots.
If you are using Linux, these packages are probably included in your distribution repository, use your package manager (e.g. yum or synaptic) to install them. For Mac OS X follow the links to the Fink Project or PythonMac. Windows users should go to the individual pages of the packages -- all of them have a binary windows download.