Question

Should I use Python 2 or 3 for this course? I'm on a Mac...

Answer 1

2.x is what is used in the lectures. I would go with 2.7.

Answer 2

yup 2.7

Answer 3

Ok, thank you. Next question...I installed Python and IDLE and all I get is a syntax error when trying to do the very basic commands at the beginning of the readings - what am I doing wrong???

Answer 4

We would need examples to help u. Also if you installed 3.x then some commands from lectures may or may not work.

Answer 5

I did 2.7 first and typed print "Hello world" and got a syntax error, also got a syntax error when entering print 3+2 ... I was entering it in IDLE, where it looks like what the information shows, but obviously, I'm doing something wrong!

Answer 6

And nevermind, I got it with the 32 bit Python 2.7! Thanks so much for the help, I'm sure I'll have lots of questions along the way! Will there be people to answer questions during the early summer as well?

Answer 7

During summer I will probably be on here a lot like almost everyday so I will be able to help you most likely

Answer 8

Awesome, thank you so much, Onyx! :)

Answer 9

Yeah no problem later I'm getting off

Answer 10

I'd go with python 3.x, there's substantial improvements, yet the language feels pretty much the same so you won't have trouble understanding python 2.x syntax

The biggest change is that print is no longer a statement:
you have to write print("bonjour") instead of print "bonjour"

Answer 11

Yeah there are only small changes but when your taking a course which uses 2.x syntax it is sometimes confusing to have to change things.