How do I start with Python? Install and first program

Download Python from python.org. On Windows, tick “Add python.exe to PATH” in the first installer window, otherwise the terminal will not find Python.

Open a terminal and check the version:

python --version
# on macOS / Linux it is often:
python3 --version

If you see a number starting with 3, you are ready.

Create a file named hello.py, put this in it and save:

name = input("Your name: ")
print("Hello,", name)

Then run it in the terminal, from the same folder:

python hello.py

• “python is not recognized”: PATH was not added — run the installer again.
• Do not name your file after a built-in module (for example random.py).
• Write code in an editor such as VS Code or IDLE, not in Word.