Install Python On Mac

Installing Python

Great news! You’re already done with this step. By default, the current Mac OS X comes with Python 2.7 that we will be using. In general, any 2.7 version should be fine. Most in class will have 2.7.10. If you have an older version Python like 2.7.5, this should be fine.

Getting The Python Modules

One of the wonders of modern programming is that writing sophisticated programs is often quite easy by making use of work others have already done. In Python, this comes in the form of third-party modules that we will download and import for use by our own programs. For example, if you want to open some images to crop and stretch and cut and paste together, you don’t need to write a program that interprets a .jpg file, as someone has already done that, you just have to import their code. As such, you will now want to install all of the wonderful modules written and maintained by outside sources that we will be using. These *DO NOT* come on Mac OS X, so you’ll need to download an installer::

To reset/uninstall the modules, run Module Reset Once you click on reset.command you will have to put in your computer password and hit Enter. Be aware that it will not show the keystrokes as you type your password.

This installer will add all of the modules that we will need for the entire semester. You will start to learn how to use these modules in the coming weeks and months. Once this installer has completed, you may delete the installer folder from your computer.

**If you encounter an error, the first thing you should do is check
Piazza to see if your error has already been solved. If it has not, please email to the instructor, Sibel Adali at adalis@rpi.edu.**

For OS X 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 and 10.10 users: This installer might fail due to a security feature, called Gatekeeper. The way to fix this is to bypass it for this module only. We will offer two possible ways to bypass Gatekeeper.

Option 1: One time security bypass:

In the first method, you will open the application in a specific way to manually bypass the gatekeeper only for this package:

  • Hold the control key on your keyboard, and click the application’s icon once to make a contextual menu appear.
  • Now, select Open from this menu.

We recommend that you do not make a habit of using this bypass however. Use this method, only if you are certain that there is no security risk with the software you are installing.

Option 2: Disable security feature, install and re-enable it:

In this second method, you will disable gatekeeper first, install the software, then re-enable it. Try the following instructions:

  • Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Preferences.

  • Go to Security & Privacy — It is located in the first row, which is entitled Personal.

  • Click on the General tab.

  • Authenticate: Click on the lock at the bottom-lefthand corner of the screen and subsequently input your computer user account password.

  • In the bottom half of the ‘General’ tab, there will be the following choices:

    • Allow applications downloaded from:

      • ( ) Mac App Store
      • (X) Mac App Store and identified developers
      • ( ) Anywhere

  • Select Anywhere and select Allow From Anywhere in the subsequent dropdown warning. We will be re-enabling this feature after the installer is completed.

  • Install the software package.

  • Once the installer has completed, go back to the System Preferences window and re-select the option

    • Allow applications downloaded from:

      • ( ) Mac App Store
      • (X) Mac App Store and identified developers
      • ( ) Anywhere

  • This will return the security settings back to normal.

  • Close System Preferences window.

Go Back And Get The IDE And Dropbox

Now, go back and get everything else you need Getting the IDE