Install On Windows

Install Miniconda Python

1. To get started you need to download the correct version of the Windows miniconda installer for your operating system.

   1. If your computer has a 64-bit operating system (most likely) use the link https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86_64.exe If your system has a 32-bit operating system (unlikely) use the link https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86.exe If you are unsure of which system you are running, see Detecting 64-bits versus 32-bits Windows Systems.

   2. Wait for it to download. It will place a file called Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86_64.exe (64-bit) or Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86.exe (32-bit) in your downloads folder. On my computer using Chrome this is in c:\Users\Wesley\Downloads

2. Click on the downloaded file to start the installation. When the installer window appears,

   1. Click Next to get started,

   2. Click I Agree to accept the license terms, and

   3. Then click Next to accept the defaults for the next several screens.

   4. When you reach the screen with the Install button, verify the the two Advanced Options checkboxes to Add Anaconda to my PATH environment variable and to Register Anaconda as my default Python 3.X are both checked. Then click Install.

   5. When the install finishes, click Next then Finish. You can ignore the Anaconda Cloud window that pops up in your browser.

3. Open a Command Prompt window. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest way is probably to right click on the windows prompt and select Command Prompt from the pop-up that appears. Alternatively, Miniconda Prompt can also be found under the Miniconda/Anaconda folder in Programs when you open the start menu.

   1. In the Command Prompt window, enter:

      conda install pillow
      

      If the conda command is not recognized, it is because the changes to your PATH variable have not propagated correctly. Simply restart your system and try again from opening the Command Prompt window.

   2. Enter y at the Proceed prompt.

   3. When the installation completes, close the Command Prompt window.

Congratulations, at this point you have fully installed Python and even added an additional module named Pillow that we will use in the next few weeks!

Install Spyder and Connect It to Miniconda Python

The second half of the installation is the Spyder IDE development environment. This is the software that you use to write, edit and test your Python programs. Spyder IDE calls Python to actually run the program. Spyder is included by default in the Anaconda Python distribution, which comes with everything you need to get started in an all-in-one package.

However, with Miniconda, we have to download and install Spyder IDE.

From the start menu open the Anaconda Prompt

Type:

conda install spyder

This will take some time to download. At the next prompt enter y to proceed.

Proceed ([y]/n)? y

Go to the start menu again and click on Spyder to open

Detecting 64-bits versus 32-bits Windows Systems

To determine if you are running 64- or 32-bit Windows, simply click on the Start key and then select Settings. It will bring up your Computer Settings App. From here

1. Select System

2. Select About

This will bring up a system description screen such as below. Your operating system type is shown in the line labeled System type. As shown, my computer is running a 64-bit operating system.