Question

I'm just starting this course. I have a teaspoon of experience with Python, but I don't have an editor on my computer. What is IDLE? Is that the python program that I downloaded from the course page? Or is it a different program? I'm ready to do the first homework assignment, but don't know where to write the file. Thanks!

Answer 1

The IDLE is an independent development environment, and installs along with python in the python directory: most likely C:\python27 (depending on the version you are using). When you open the IDLE, you can click on the File > New File menu to open a blank script (this is where you'll be doing the coding). When finished writing the script, save it, and run it using the F5 key.

Answer 2

Additionally, an editor is not necessarily needed. You can write python code in a text editor such as Notepad and save it as (all files) with a .py extension. Then, place the file in the C:\python27 directory, and run the script from the command prompt or terminal.

for example:
C:\>cd python27
C:\Python27>python yourscript.py

Answer 3

Thanks for the quick response. My third web search brought up directions to find the idle.bit file to open IDLE. I think they need to add that little tidbit of info to the course page.

Answer 4

.bat not .bit, ugh....