Python tracker setup

HOME > SNOWPLOW SETUP GUIDE > Step 2: setup a Tracker > Python tracker

Contents

• 1 Overview
• 2 Integration options
  • 2.1 Tracker compatibility
  • 2.2 Dependencies
• 3 Setup
  • 3.1 PyPI
  • 3.2 pip
  • 3.3 easy_install

1. Overview

The Snowplow Python Tracker lets you add analytics to your Python-based applications.

The tracker should be relatively straightforward to setup if you are familiar with Python development.

Ready? Let's get started.

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2. Integration options

2.1 Tracker compatibility

As a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively, Python is available in a huge number of different computing environments and platforms, from Civilization IV through Django framework to Ubuntu One.

To make the Snowplow Python Tracker work out-of-the-box with as many different Python programs as possible, we have tried to:

1. Minimize external dependencies and third party libraries
2. Provide setup instructions

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2.2 Dependencies

To make the Snowplow Python Tracker work with as many different Python programs as possible, we have tried to keep external dependencies to a minimum. There are only two external dependencies currently:

• PyContracts - Python package that allows one to declare constraints on function parameters and return values.
• Requests - HTTP library

These dependencies can be installed from the package manager of the host system or through PyPi.

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3. Setup

3.1 PyPI

The Snowplow Python Tracker is published to PyPI, the the official third-party software repository for the Python programming language.

This makes it easy to either install the tracker locally, or to add it as a dependency into your own Python app.

3.2 pip

To install the Snowplow Python Tracker locally, assuming you already have Pip installed:

$ pip install snowplow-tracker --upgrade

To add the Snowplow Tracker as a dependency to your own Python app, edit your requirements.txt and add:

snowplow-tracker ~> 0.8.0

3.3 easy_install

If you are still using easy_install:

$ easy_install -U snowplow-tracker

Done? Now read the Python Tracker API to start tracking events.