If you are a Linux or OS-X user, python is already installed on your machine. And yes, you can use Eclipse or other python-specific IDEs, but that is not very pythonic. Emacs or vi are all you need.

Learning python

My favorite editor is emacs. There is a Mac version called Aquamacs.

You will need to install an editor that knows about python. DO NOT type programs in microsoft Word! My favorite editor is emacs. There is a Mac version called http://aquamacs.org?.

If you are a Linux or OS-X user - python is already installed on your machine. On a Mac, open your Terminal application (under Applications/Utilities) and type python

If you are a Linux or OS-X user - python is already installed on your machine. On a Mac, open your Terminal application (under Applications/Utilities) and type python

Installing and using python

If you are a Linux or OS-X user - python is already installed on your machine. On a Mac, open your Terminal application (under Applications/Utilities) and type python

Learning about python

• How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python

Python

The executive summary

• What is python. By Guido van Rossum (the guy who started it all).

Quick introductions

• Instant python

Free python tutorials/e-books

• How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python
• The official python tutorial
• Dive Into Python

Packages

• numpy: scientific computing in python; includes powerful array objects and linear algebra functions.
• matplotlib: plotting

odds and ends

• A comparison of python and java
• The python paradox
• Why people like python