In order to use Python, you need to have at least Python distribution. The current version of Python in the time we write this tutorial is 3.1.2. You can go to the official Python website to download the latest Python version. You have to choose platform which you are using. We will use Windows platform for tutorial series.
To install Python, just execute the installation file you downloaded and make the choices in each step you would like to have.
To launch python interactive shell, you can go to the installed folder, such as C:\Python31 and execute the file python.exe.
Download Python IDE
IDE stands for integrated development environment. It provides you a lot of features such as syntax highlighter, debugger, and code completion and so on to rapid application development. There are a lot of Python IDEs ranging from free to commercial available. You can find them all in the following links:
In our tutorial, we will use NetBeans IDE. To download NetBean IDE you can go to the official NetBeans website, download section. Then you can install Python Plugin of NetBeans to be able to develop Python program.