Python Installation and Distributions

There are numerous versions of Python and various distributions of Python on the internet today. In this post we’re just going to give a list of Python distributions and you decide which one you want to install. First of all there is just Python 2.x and Python 3.x on website www.python.org so if you want that select which Python you wish to install. After installation you can run Python from command prompt on Windows or Terminal on Linux distributions or open Python shell.

If you wish to install distribution here is a list of Python distribution so feel free to check it out:

• ActivePython from ActiveState
• Anaconda from Continuum Analytics
• ChinesePython Project: Translation of Python's keywords, internal types and classes into Chinese. Eventually allows a programmer to write Python programs in Chinese.
• Enthought's Canopy
• Win9xPython: Backport of mainline CPython 2.6/2.7 to old versions of Windows 9x/NT.
• IPython and its IPyKit variant
• PocketPython
• Portable Python: Run Python from USB device - noinstallation needed.
• PyIMSL Studio
• PyPy: a Python implementation in Python.
• Python(x,y): Python(x,y) is a scientific-orientedPython Distribution based on Qt, Eclipse and Spyder
• PythonForArmLinux
• PythonLabsPython: an old name for the python.org distribution
• PythonwarePython
• StacklessPython

Each of these Python distributions comes with a lot of libraries that you can utilize while creating your programs. On this website all the examples are done on Python(x/y) specifically Spyder. In general Python(x,y) utilize the Python 2.7.10 version. Short examples are ran on Python 2.7.10 opened from Command Prompt.

Some differences between Python 2.x and Python 3.x are explained in post “Differences between Python 2.x and Python 3.x” so check it out.