Python in the Terminal - Pythia Foundations

Overview¶

You’d like to learn to run Python in the terminal. Here we will cover:

Installing Python in the terminal
Running Python code in the terminal

Prerequisites¶

Concepts	Importance	Notes
Installing and Running Python	Helpful

Time to learn: 20 minutes

Installing Python in the Terminal¶

If you are running Python in the terminal, it is best to install Miniforge. You can do that by following the instructions for your machine.

Then create a conda environment with Python installed by typing the following into your terminal:

$ conda create --name pythia_test_env python

You can test this by running python in the command line.

Running Python in the Terminal¶

On Windows, open Miniforge Prompt. On a Mac or Linux machine, open Terminal.

Activate your conda environment:
```
$ conda activate pythia_test_env
```
Create a directory to store our work. Let’s call it pythia_test.
```
$ mkdir pythia_test
```
Go into the directory:
```
$ cd pythia_test
```
Create a new Python file:
```
$ touch mysci.py
```
On Windows:
```
type nul > mysci.py
```
And now that you’ve set up our workspace, edit the mysci.py script using your favorite text editor (e.g., nano):
```
$ nano mysci.py
```
On Windows, a quick option is to edit on Notepad:
```
notepad mysci.py
```
Change the script to include the classic first command: printing, “Hello, world!”.
```
print("Hello, world!")
```
Save your file and exit the editor. How to do this is dependent on your chosen text editor.
- In Vim, revert to command mode by pressing esc. Then, the command is :wq.
- In nano it is Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X to exit (where you will be prompted if you want to save it, if modified).
- In Notepad, Ctrl+S and close the window.
In the terminal, execute your script:
```
$ python mysci.py
```

Congratulations! You have just set up your first Python environment and run your first Python script in the terminal.

Summary¶

Running Python in the terminal is a good option if you are familiar with Linux commands or scripting on a supercomputer. It requires the use of a text editor.

What’s next?¶

Additional resources¶

Linux commands