Add python to path

(Originally published at sqlpad.io)

Introduction to Environment Variables

Before we dive into the technicalities of adding Python to your system’s PATH, it’s crucial to understand the foundations upon which you’re building. This section will introduce you to the world of environment variables — a fundamental concept in computing that plays a pivotal role in how your system operates and interacts with installed software.

What are Environment Variables?

Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. They are used by the operating system and applications to store information about the system environment, such as the location of system files, settings for software applications, and system preferences.

For example, in Python, you might encounter an environment variable like PYTHONPATH, which helps the interpreter determine where to look for modules to import. You can see this in action by running the following in your Python interpreter:

import os
print(os.environ['PYTHONPATH'])

If PYTHONPATH is set, this will print out the directories listed in it. If not, you might encounter a KeyError, as this environment variable might not be present on your system.

Another practical application is when you’re writing a script that needs to access a database. Instead of hardcoding the credentials…