Set Up an IDE or Programming Environment

You can use any Python environment you like for this class, as long as you complete all the requirements of each assignment. Below are suggestions for two interactive notebook formats: Jupyter and Marimo.

Set Up Jupyter Lab¶

This page will help you make sure you are set up to use Python and Jupyter Lab on your own computer as well as in the classroom. You will use the Jupyter Notebook file getting_started.ipynb linked below.

getting_started.ipynb

Getting Set Up In The Classroom¶

Important Note: while we will be using the same software, Jupyter Lab, in both the classroom and on your own computer, you will start the applications in different ways depending on which system you are on. Specifically, in the classroom, you will use a Jupyter.bat file to launch the software. You SHOULD NOT put this file on your own computer. On your own computer, you will launch Anaconda and Jupyter Lab as you would any other application you have installed.

To use python in the classroom, we will use the Anaconda package already installed on these computers:

1. Create a folder in your share space (that is, your H: drive) with a name like “python” or “CIS397”.

2. Download and save the getting_started.ipynb file linked above to that folder

3. Download the Jupyter.txt file linked here and save it to the desktop

4. Rename the Jupyter.txt file to Jupyter.bat (There may be additional numbers and letters in the filename: you can remove those.)

5. Double click the Jupyter.bat icon to launch Jupyter Lab

6. In the interface that appears, navigate to the folder you created with the getting_started.ipynb file in it

7. Click on the getting_started.ipynb file to open it; you should see a collection of Python code and markdown comments, broken up between a number of boxes/cells

8. Follow the instructions in the file to run the code and review the output

Getting Set Up On Your Own Computer¶

To use python on your own computer, you will install Anaconda, available at https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual

1. Download the Individual Edition installer for your system

2. Run the installer using the default/recommended options

3. Download the getting_started.ipynb file linked above, keeping track of where you have saved it on your computer

4. Launch the Jupyter Lab application; this may be inside an Anaconda3 folder or an Anaconda Navigator application

5. In the interface that appears, navigate through the directories/folders on your computer to the space where you have saved the getting_started.ipynb file.

6. Click on the getting_started.ipynb file to open it; you should see a collection of Python code and markdown comments, broken up between a number of boxes/cells

7. Follow the instructions in the file to run the code and review the output

Set Up Marimo¶

Marimo is a newer type of interactive Python notebook

Getting Set Up In The Classroom¶

1. In a Powershell window, run python.exe.

2. This command should launch the Windows store, where you can download and install Python.

3. Once Python is installed, install Marimo in Powershell with pip.exe install marimo. (You will need to use the same method to install other necessary libraries, such as networkx and pandas.)

4. In Powershell navigate to your H-drive by running cd H:\.

5. Launch Marimo with the command marimo edit.

Getting Set Up On Your Own Computer¶

Follow the Quickstart Guide on Marimo’s website. Once it’s installed, you will use the same command to launch Marimo on your own computer: marimo edit.