Getting started with Anaconda¶
Anaconda Distribution contains conda and Anaconda Navigator, as well as Python and hundreds of scientific packages. When you installed Anaconda, you installed all these too. You can try both conda and Navigator to see which is right for you to manage your packages and environments. You can even switch between them, and the work you do with one can be viewed in the other.
Now, try this simple programming exercise two ways, with Navigator and a terminal, to help you decide which approach is right for you.
Your first Python program: Hello, Anaconda!¶
Write and run a Python program using Anaconda Navigator.
2. Run Python in Spyder IDE (integrated development environment)¶
TIP: Navigator’s Home screen displays several applications for you to choose from. For more information, see links at bottom of this page.
On Navigator’s Home tab, in the Applications pane on the right, scroll to the Spyder tile and click the Install button to install Spyder.
NOTE: If you already have Spyder installed, you can jump right to the Launch step.
Launch Spyder by clicking Spyder’s Launch button.
In the new file on the left, delete any placeholder text, then type or
copy/paste print("Hello Anaconda")
.
In the top menu, click File - Save As and name your new program hello.py
.
Run your new program by clicking the triangle Run button.
You can see your program’s output in the bottom right Console pane.
3. Close Spyder¶
From Spyder’s top menu bar, select Spyder - Quit Spyder (In macOS, select Python - Quit Spyder).
Write a Python program using Anaconda Prompt or Terminal¶
1. Open Anaconda Prompt¶
Windows
From the Start menu, search for and open “Anaconda Prompt”:
MacOS
Open Launchpad, then click the Terminal icon.
Linux
Open a Terminal window.
2. Start Python¶
At Anaconda Prompt (Terminal on Linux or macOS), type python
and press Enter.
The >>>
means you are in Python.
3. Write a Python program¶
At the >>>
, type print("Hello Anaconda!")
and press Enter.
When you press enter, your program runs. The words “Hello Anaconda!” print to the screen. You’re programming in Python!
4. Exit Python¶
On Windows press CTRL-Z and press Enter. On macOS or Linux type exit() and press Enter.