Install Python on Ubuntu and set up a Programming Environment

Step 1 – Verifying Python version

Ubuntu should have Python 3.x already installed. However, we will verify this with the command below:

Output:

If you get an error: bash: python3: command not found you can download python using apt 

Next, we will install pip.  A tool that will install and manage programming packages for python.

Now we can install python packages with the command:

Replace “package_name” with the package you want to install

Let's install some development tools!

Step 2 – Configuring your Environment

Configuring a virtual environment will keep your python projects isolated from other projects. To do this we will be installing the venv module:

Next, let's make a directory for our environment and change to that path.

Now we can create our python environment

Let's verify that the environment was created with the ls command

Output:In order to use the environment we created, we need to activate it

You should now see your environment activated with (my_env) to the left of your terminalStep 3 Create your first program

Use your favorite command line text editor, in my case I'm using nano, and create a file named hello.py

Add the following line in your text editor

Once saved, you can execute hello.py

Output:You have now installed a python programming environment and created your first program.  Have fun!