In order to use Python, one needs to install it first. Zed A. Shaw, the author of "Learn Python the Hard Way", suggests install Python alone, use simple text editor such as Atom to write Python code, and run these codes with PowerShell/Terminal. This path may benefits you in the long run as a software developer. As an economist, I gain relative small marginal benefit from this approach. I find the most efficient way for me is to use an IDE and the IDE alone. Therefore, I recommend use Spyder without Anaconda.
The first step is very easy. What we need to do is to go to Python's official website. And download the installer file corresponding to your operating system. After downloading the installer, simply double click it and wait. Be careful with the version you download. Make sure it's 64 bit/32 bit which matches your operation system. An alternative is installing by homebrew (if use homebrew, you could need to pip3 command instead of pip later).
While the installation is complete, restart the computer and open cmd.exe (Windows) or Terminal.app (MacOS X) and type:
to test if the installation is complete. Then type:
to exit Python.
According to Spyder's official website, PyQt5 is required. To install it, just type:
To see more detail, please visit PyQt's official website.
If the previous two steps is finished. Install Spyder is trivial. Type:
While the installation is complete, type:
Then the Spyder IDE will start. This process can be found on Spyder's official website.
To upgrade Spyder, type:
Go to this site download the latest numpy and scipy. For example, the user with 64 bit Python 3.6 should download "numpy‑1.13.0rc1+mkl‑cp36‑cp36m‑win_amd64.whl" and "scipy‑0.19.0‑cp36‑cp36m‑win_amd64.whl." (Windows)
Mac user can skip the first two steps.
Type the following command to install: