Having been inspired yesterday I’ve just started having a play with python. Been following this tutorial as he’s started from the beginning so easy for people like me to follow.

http://www.dickBaldwin.com/

However I’ve hit a wall as I don’t know how to create a path file for it. I’m using Mac OS X. Feeling a bit like I’m in over my head but I really want to get to grips with it.

So any help / tips / advice here will be greatly appreciated!

Start with the dead parrot

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLl1RWlgw7o[/video]

“it’s f*****g snuffed it!”

Trouble downt mill,
four yorkshiremen…
ministry of sllly walks.

Should have seen that one coming!

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo&feature=player_detailpage[/video]

Yay, Python!

http://docs.python.org/tutorial/

Another tutorial you might want to look at. What do you mean a path file? Do you mean adding Python to your system path so that you can call python from the command line?

Have you done any coding before?

Cheers chvck, that looks like a helpful tutorial.

I’m under the impression that to start using scripts I have to set a path for it?

And no, no coding experience whatsoever!

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU7rtgPLqjs&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

I’m not an osx user but i use Ubuntu so it’s not that far away.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3387695/add-to-python-path-mac-os-x

Might help you, it may not. One of the most important things (at least to me) is the editor that you use to write code. Having syntax highlighting and auto-complete on keywords is quite nice. It’s worth having a play with a few to see what you like. I use Komodo Edit 6

http://www.activestate.com/komodo-edit

It may also be worth having a look at a few generic programming guides and that sort of thing. When you’ve got to grips with it all I can send/link you some of my code to have a play with if you like.

Python comes pre-installed on OSX. Snow Leopard ships with 2.6 specifically. You don’t need to mess with your path to run a script, just do “python <your script.py>” in Terminal.app and you’re away.

To add to chvck’s bit about editors, give Textmate a go. It’s very popular on OSX and pretty cheap to buy if you like it.