Python Primer

The purpose of this page is to help you get started with Python and accompanying tools.

One important question is where to start regarding pip and conda. Here is a quick read to help answer this question. For me, the generic answer is install both:

• Install conda
• Use conda to install pip

Conda Installation

The only downside to using conda, is that there is no automatic installation. You need to go to conda downloads to observe the url before continuing.

• Find the conda URL by righ-clicking on the appropriate link found on this page: conda downloads
• Build the url variable. Be sure to get the most recent file name - do not just copy/paste below)
  • CONDA_FILE="Anaconda3-2023.09-0-Linux-x86_64.sh"
  • CONDA_URL="https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/$CONDA_FILE"
• cd /tmp
• wget $CONDA_URL
• bash $CONDA_FILE

Follow the prompts. Most are logical. When asked "Do you wish to update your shell profile to automatically initialize conda?', select Yes.

References:

• https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-the-anaconda-python-distribution-on-ubuntu-22-04

Instructions to Install and Configure PIP

If you used the above section to install conda:

conda install pip

If you are installing pip from scratch:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3-pip
pip install --upgrade pip
sudo apt install -y python3-venv
mkdir environments
cd environments
python3 -m venv my_env
ls my_env
source my_env/bin/activate

References:

• https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-python-3-and-set-up-a-programming-environment-on-an-ubuntu-20-04-server

Install Jupyter Notebook

# from above start -- repeated just in case not already done
cd environments
python3 -m venv my_env
ls my_env
source my_env/bin/activate
# from above end
pip install jupyter
jupyter notebook
# the previous command will launch your browser and open jupyter

References:

• https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-jupyter-notebook-for-python-3