Prerequisites for Working with Python

Verify that Python is installed

If you’re using a Mac, your computer probably already has Python installed. To verify, open your Terminal, type python and hit Enter. You should see something like this:

Python 3.9.6 (default, Oct 18 2022, 12:41:40) 
[Clang 14.0.0 (clang-1400.0.29.202)] on darwin

On Windows, use Windows search, type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt or right-click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell), type python, and press Enter. Again, you should see a print out similar to above. If it is not installed, follow a guide like this to get it on the computer.

Before proceeding to the next step, exit the Python shell (which you can verify that you’re still in if you see >>> next to your cursor) by typing exit() and hitting enter.

Verify that PIP is installed

PIP is a package installer that makes it easy to download different Python packages.

If you just followed the Python installation verification process above and still have the Python shell open (that means you see >>> next to your cursor), exit it by typing exit() and hitting enter, open up your command line interface—the Terminal on Mac, Command Prompt or PowerShell on PC—and type pip --version. This is to verify that you have the Python package manager installed. This is what will allow us to install the aforementioned dependencies. If you do not have PIP installed:

• On Mac: You can either install Homebrew—recommended even if you choose another method, as it is a very useful utility—and then install PIP through Homebrew, or you can simply run python -m ensurepip --upgrade in your terminal.
• On PC: Open your Command Prompt or PowerShell and run py -m ensurepip --upgrade.