How to Set Up and Install Python 3 Development Environment Across Platforms

Python 3 Environment Setup

This chapter introduces how to build a local Python 3 development environment, which works on many platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Downloading Python 3

The latest source code, binaries, and documentation are available on the official Python website https://www.python.org/ . Documentation can be downloaded in HTML, PDF, or PostScript formats from https://www.python.org/doc/ .

Installation

Python has been ported to numerous platforms. For each platform you need the appropriate binary package; if none is available you can compile from source.

Unix & Linux – Example steps for Python 3.6.1:

<code># tar -zxvf Python-3.6.1.tgz
# cd Python-3.6.1
# ./configure
# make && make install</code>

Verify the installation with:

<code># python3 -V
Python 3.6.1</code>

Windows – Download the executable installer (x86 for 32‑bit, x86‑64 for 64‑bit) from https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/ and check the “Add Python 3.6 to PATH” option.

macOS – macOS ships with Python 2.7; download the latest Python 3.x installer from https://www.python.org/downloads/mac-osx/ or build from source.

Environment Variable Configuration

Programs and executables may reside in directories not included in the system search path. The PATH variable stores these directories.

Unix/Linux – Add Python to PATH :

<code>export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/python"</code>

or for csh :

<code>setenv PATH "$PATH:/usr/local/bin/python"</code>

Windows – In a command prompt:

<code>path=%path%;C:\Python</code>

Or add the directory via System → Advanced system settings → Environment Variables.

Important Python‑specific variables:

PYTHONPATH – module search path.

PYTHONSTARTUP – script executed on interpreter start.

PYTHONCASEOK – makes imports case‑insensitive.

PYTHONHOME – alternative module search location.

Running Python

Three common ways:

Interactive interpreter: python (Unix) or python (Windows).

Command‑line script: python script.py .

IDE: PyCharm – a full‑featured Python IDE (download from https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/ ).

Python command‑line options include -d (debug), -O (optimise), -S (skip site‑module), -V (version), -c cmd (execute command), and specifying a script file.

Additional Resources

The article also provides QR‑code links for a free Python public course and further reading on popular Python libraries, learning roadmaps, and books.