When I read about python, The course said I needed to download python 2.6 And the download I.D.L.E.. After I downloaded python2.6 I looked on python's website for I.D.L.E. and could not find a download for it. I'm using windows 8, So I'm confused. Should I be using python without I.D.L.E.? It appears that python is working on my computer without it. But seeing how I'm inexperienced with computers I'm not sure what is going on here. Does anyone know if I need to download I.D.L.E.?

Question

When I read about python, The course said I needed to download python 2.6 And the download I.D.L.E.. After I downloaded python2.6 I looked on python's website for I.D.L.E. and could not find a download for it. I'm using windows 8, So I'm confused. Should I be using  python without I.D.L.E.?  It appears that python is working on my computer without it. But seeing how I'm inexperienced with computers I'm not sure what is going on here. Does anyone know if I need to download I.D.L.E.?

kainui · Answer

Yeah, you should definitely use IDLE. It's a play on words of a more common acronym, IDE which stands for Integrated Development Environment. That sounds kind of weird or scary but really all it is is simply like a "spell check" for writing code, along with a bunch of other useful stuff to help you code and learn faster. It will probably make compiling and running your code easier as well.

e.mccormick · Answer

IDLE is part of the Python package, so you shpuld have it already.

rsmith6559 · Answer

IDLE is optional as far as Python is concerned.  The course may use it, but it's a mediocre IDE and not mandatory.

e.mccormick · Answer

@rsmith6559 Perosnally I found PyScripter pretty easy to use and learn with.