Installing Python on a local Windows-based, Apache, server

• October 7, 2006
• James Skemp
• tutorials / guides

In this article, we'll be installing Python on our local server via ActiveState's ActivePython. You can download the current version of ActivePython (2.4.3.12), as well as a select number of previous versions, from http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePython/

Since we're installing to Windows, download the 18.7 MB Windows (x86) MSI file (ActivePython-2.4.3.12-win32-x86.msi).

Once we've download the file, open it. Read and accept the license, and on the next screen, leave the installed settings along, but change the Install to from C:\Python24\ to C:\usr\bin\python\. Finally, Install.

To test the installation, open Notepad and enter the following lines:

print "Hello world"

Next, save this file at c:\helloworld.py. Now, open the Command Prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and type in the following.

python c:\helloworld.py

You can also just type python to see version information. Press Ctrl + Z to exit python (if you just typed python) and exit to exit the command prompt.

Congrats. With that, you've successfully installed ActivePython to your machine!

View all of the steps to creating a local Web server, for development.

• python