Installing Python and Django
Alright. I believe the best way to learn is to teach or rather, the best way to solidify any knowledge is to teach what has been learned.
Sequel to my last post is this one. Installing python and django on your pc. This tutorial is for our 64-bit buddies, 32-bit you might have an issue installing this version of python I would be posting here, one of the coaches has a way for 32-bit systems, I would post that by next Saturday or before then, hopefully. I already have python and django (pronounced jango) installed, so most of what I would write is going to be a DIY thing.
Ready. Set. Go!
The whole issue of installing Python and Django, we would also need to install a virtual environment, I don’t know why yet since am just new to this stuff, but hopefully we would get to know in the course of the workshop.
Installing Python — Before, I proceed any further, it would be wise to shed some light on Python. Okay. Python is a back-end programming language and it can be used to do lots of awesome stuffs like build blogs, etc. I hear people say even read a comment by Mark Zuckerberg to one of his friends on facebook that Python is the best programming language for beginners. All these awesome stuffs that can be created with python needs to be expressed to the user via HTML, though it is the most debunked language by developers. Forgive us HTML for we know not what we do.
Now, let’s install Python — You can download Python by visiting their official site at here. The latest version is Python 3.6.3 which is currently on my 64-bit system and yes, this version runs smoothly only on 64-bit cause I noticed 32-bit buddies had issues with installation. But the 2.7.14 version seemed to work with 32-bit systems but there is a different tutorial on that which I would post by Saturday. Also, if you are using Windows XP, it won’t install, find versions below 3.5.
Steps
Download Python from their official site here.
Run the package after downloading
Then do the entire installation process by following the prompt on each step.
To know it was successful, you will see a Finish button and shikena!
How to know you have got Python installed
Go to your command line by typing on your search bar cmd or just command line. When you see the option, click on the command line. Here’s a picture of mine below.
To my Egbons and Sisis who like shortcuts, windows has got you here. To find the command line using keyboard. Press Win+ X at the same time on your keyboard.
Win button is that button on your keyboard with the windows logo and it is before the alt button.
So python is installed on my system here and it even shows the version whether 64-bit or 32-bit.
How did I do this? When you open the command prompt. Just type python where you see the blinking cursor and if it’s installed, this should pop out next.
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Installing Django- It would be wise to talk a bit about Django. Django is also a back-end programming language just like Python but now it is a framework of Python, that means, it was a program created to make Python easier, faster etcetera by just writing a few lines of code. Let me say a bit about frameworks. Whenever you hear stuffs like frameworks, fret not.
Frameworks of any language at all are programs written to make these languages run faster and easier by just a few lines of code. Say, maybe, if you had to write 30 lines of code to create a single event. An event is something like when a user like you and me clicks a button. Frameworks can compress 30 lines of code into just 2 lines of code to achieve the same result.
Now, whatever you can create with Python you can also with Django but faster now, as I said Frameworks.
Did you know Instagram was created with Django? Bet you didn’t. Haha!
Steps
Now, there is no official site to download Django.
On your command line just type this pip3 install django you can copy and paste it to your own command line.
You will need internet connection to install Django, I think about 7MB.
Wait for it to finish collecting and it will tell you successful when it’s done.
Type the command on from the picture on the right to know if Django has been installed django-admin version.
Finally, install virtual environment- I didn’t ask questions here so till nextweek when we do finally get to use it. But just install the virtual environment using the command pip3 install virtualenv, you will need internet connection but it’s a size in KB.
After installing, it should give a successful to indicate.
Alright buddies, that’s it for now. I got some hacks I learned recently, two to be precise, one from Ada at Django and one from Israel Ime at ForLoopPH. Would share them tomorrow. Have questions? Ask away. Share as well. Enjoy the rest of your night.
