Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and versatility. And when you combine Python with the open-source operating system Linux, you have an incredible toolkit for coding. This blog post will guide you on how you can use Python in a Linux environment.
Step 1: Installation
Most Linux distributions already come with Python pre-installed. To check if Python is installed on your system, you can open a terminal and type the following command:
python –version
If Python is installed, this command will display the version of Python that is currently in use. If Python is not installed, you can install it using the following commands for Debian-based and Red Hat-based systems respectively:
sudo apt-get install python3.8 # Debian-based systems
sudo yum install python3.8 # Red Hat-based systems
Step 2: Interactive Python Shell
After installation, you can start using Python right away through the Python interactive shell. You can launch the Python interactive shell by just typing python in your terminal.
Step 3: Writing Python Scripts
For larger programs, you would want to write your Python code in a script and then execute that script. You can create a Python script by creating a new text file with the extension ‘.py’. For example, you can create a new Python script named ‘hello.py’ and type the following code:
print("Hello, World!")
You can then run this Python script with the following command:
python hello.py
This will print ‘Hello, World!’ in your terminal.
Step 4: Python Libraries
Python’s power comes from its wide array of libraries. You can install Python libraries using pip, Python’s package manager. For example, to install the Python library ‘requests’, you would use the following command:
pip install requests
Conclusion
That’s it! You now know how to use Python in a Linux environment. Python and Linux are both very powerful tools for programming and when you use them together, you can create some truly amazing things. Happy coding!