Python Deployment
This section shows how to deploy Python locally (or on a server) as well as via the web
browser.
Anaconda
A number of operating systems come with a version of Python and a number of additional
libraries already installed. This is true, for example, of Linux operating systems, which
often rely on Python as their main language (for packaging, administration, etc.).
However, in what follows we assume that Python is not installed or that we are installing
an additional version of Python (in parallel to an existing one) using the Anaconda
distribution.
You can download Anaconda for your operating system from the website
for Python deployment. Among them are:
Libraries/packages
You get more than 100 of the most important Python libraries and packages in a
single installation step; in particular, you get all these installed in a version-consistent
manner (i.e., all libraries and packages work with each other).
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Open source
The Anaconda distribution is free of charge in general,
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as are all libraries and
packages included in the distribution.
Cross platform
It is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.
Separate installation
It installs into a separate directory without interfering with any existing installation;
no root/admin rights are needed.
Automatic updates
Libraries and packages included in Anaconda can be (semi)automatically updated via
free online repositories.
Conda package manager
The package manager allows the use of multiple Python versions and multiple
versions of libraries in parallel (for experimentation or development/testing
purposes); it also has great support for virtual environments.
After having downloaded the installer for Anaconda, the installation in general is quite
easy. On Windows platforms, just double-click the installer file and follow the instructions.
Under Linux, open a shell, change to the directory where the installer file is located, and
type:
$ bash Anaconda-1.x.x-Linux-x86[_64].sh
