Hackathons/Laptop setup/OSX set up Python

OS X ships with Python installed, so the goal of this page is to make sure you can start a Terminal and run Python from the command line.

Start up a Terminal. You can find the Terminal application through Spotlight, or navigate to Applications/Utilities/Terminal.

This Terminal contains something called a command prompt. This command prompt is another way of navigating your computer and running programs -- just textually instead of graphically. We are going to be running Python and Python scripts from this command prompt.
Test your Python install at the command prompt. Type
```
python
```
and hit enter. You should see something like
```
Python 2.7.1 (r261:67515, Feb 11 2010, 00:51:29) 
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5646)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
```
- You just started Python! The >>> indicates that you are at a new type of prompt -- a Python prompt. The command prompt lets you navigate your computer and run programs, and the Python prompt lets you write and run Python code interactively.
- If the Python version number (2.7.1 in the example above) does not start with 2.7, tell a staff member.
To exit the Python prompt, type
```
exit()
```
and press Enter. This will take you back to the OS X command prompt.

Success!

You have tested your Python installation.