This page has information about software not linked to elsewhere that we'll be using in CSC120. It also includes instructions on how to use your own computer to do your CSC120 coursework.
Installation instructions for working on your own computer
You are encouraged to install Python 3.7 and Wing 101 on your own computer. (If you work on your own computer, make sure to test your code on your account on the Teaching Labs system, because we will be testing your code there.)
Python 2 is not compatible. You must work with Python 3. (If you are curious what the difference is, feel free to explore What’s New In Python 3.0.)
Here are instructions for what to do. Read them carefully!
- Download and install Python 3: http://www.python.org/download. (The lectures will be using Python 3.7.0, and we recommend you install the same version. Please do not install Python 2: you need a version of Python 3.)
- Windows users: choose the "Windows x86 executable installer" from the downloads page. (Use the 64 bit if you know you have a 64-bit machine.)
- Mac users: choose the "Mac OS X 64-bit/32-bit installer" from the downloads page.
- Linux users: use your package manager to install Python 3.
- Download and install Wing IDE 101, the editing environment we will use in the computer labs and in lecture: http://wingware.com/downloads/wingide-101/.
- Run Wing IDE 101. If you see "
3.7.0" in top left corner of the Python Shell tab, great! If you see anything else, you'll need to configure it to use Python 3.7. To do this, select Edit->Configure Python. Click on the Custom button, and type "python3.7" in the "Python Executable" box, and click OK. Restart the Python Shell to make sure it now says "3.7.0" in top left corner. - Set Wing IDE 101 to be the default program to open .py files. (This means that when you double-click on a .py file, it will open in Wing instead of IDLE.)
- 1. Download and save this
setup.pyfile. Make sure you remember which folder it is saved to! - 2. (Windows users)
- (Windows 10 users): Right click on any .py file, select “Open with” > “Choose another app” > check “Always use this app to open .py files” then select “Look for another app on this PC”, browse for Wing 101, then select it.
- (Windows 7 users): Click on Start, then click on or search for 'Default Programs'. Next, click on 'Associate a file type or protocol with a program', select '.py' files, and click 'Change Program'. Select Wing101, or click 'Other Programs' and browse for it, then select it. Click 'OK'.
- 2. (Mac users): Use Finder to navigate to the folder where you saved
setup.pyin the previous step. Press the Control key and click onsetup.py. Select 'Get Info', then expand the 'Open with' section. In the dropdown, select 'Wing101.app', click 'Change All...', and then 'Continue'. - 3. Double click on
setup.pyto confirm it opens in Wing101. Click the green Run button. Enter your name when prompted. If you see a message that you are ready to go, then you are!
- 1. Download and save this
If you need help with any of this, please drop by office hours as soon as possible!
Python visualizer
We will be using this online memory visualizer in lectures to show the state of the computer memory as a Python program is executed.
Working in the Teaching Labs
The course software (Python 3 and Wing 101) is available in the Teaching Labs computer labs.
Python Documentation
There is extensive Python documentation; you can use it online or click the first link to download the documentation to your own computer. (Please do not download it to your Teaching Labs account; use the online version instead.)