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1. Meet Python: Everyone loves lists > Install Python 3
Install Python 3
Before you write and run Python code, you need to make sure the Python interpreter is on your computer. In this book, you’ll start out with Release 3 of Python, the very latest (and best) version of the language.
A release of Python might already be on your computer. Mac OS X comes with Python 2 preinstalled, as do most versions of Linux (which can also ship with Release 3). Windows, in contrast, doesn’t include any release of Python. Let’s check your computer for Python 3. Open up a command-line prompt and, if you are using Mac OS X or Linux, type:
On Windows, use this command:
Do this!
If Python 3 is missing from your computer, download a copy for your favorite OS from the www.python.org website.
When you install Python 3, you also get IDLE, Python’s simple—yet surprisingly useful—integrated development environment. IDLE includes a color syntax-highlighting editor, a debugger, the Python Shell, and a complete copy of Python 3’s online documentation set.
