Installing Anaconda and Python

This is a brief guide on how to install Anaconda and Python on your PC. We recommend having it installed on your own machine to follow along programming tasks in lectures and for assignments and labs. Anaconda will setup Python for programming and an editor (Spyder) to help write those programs.

Lab Computers


Spyder and Python are both installed on the lab computers. You can find Spyder in the application menu, under "development".

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Mac

  1. Go to the website https://www.anaconda.com/download

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  3. Click "Download" and wait for the installer to finish downloading to your device.



  4. Once download is complete. Locate installer either by
    • Opening "Finder" -> "Downloads" folder
    • Depending what internet browser you are using, open it through their downloads page or downloads bar on the bottom of the window. (If you do not know where that is for the browser, either google where it is or use the Finder method above.)

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  5. Double click on the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.

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  7. Open Anaconda using either of the following 2 methods:
  8. Launch Spyder.
    • Note that Spyder may ask whether you would like to install a package called Kite, our recommendation is that you do not . Our concern is that Kite can be a distraction for a beginner programmer.

Windows

  1. Go to the website https://www.anaconda.com/downloads

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  3. Click "Download" and wait for the installer to finish downloading.



  4. Once download is complete. Locate installer either by
    • Going to your "file explorer" (the folder icon in the taskbar). Then navigate to your "Downloads" folder.
    • Depending what internet browser you are using, open it through their downloads page or downloads bar on the bottom of the window. (If you do not know where that is for the browser, either google where it is or use the Finder method above.)

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  5. Double click on the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.

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  7. Open Anaconda using either of the following 2 methods:
  8. Launch Spyder.
    • Note that Spyder may ask whether you would like to install a package called Kite, our recommenation is that you do not . Our concern is that Kite can be a distraction for a beginner programmer.
Note: It is possible to launch Spyder directly without going through Anaconda. You can find it in the Anaconda3 folder in the start menu or search for Spyder directly from Cortana.

Additional Help


If you get stuck installing Aanconda on your computer, ask your tutor in the first lab. There are also additional help labs sessions that run throughout the semester. Please check the course page on webcms and click "Help Sessions" on the sidebar.
There is also a way to connect to CSE using something called VLab. We encourage you to get Anaconda/python running on your own machine first, since it will be faster and more reliable.