This document descibes common steps that you will require to install the required software/packages required to quickly setup a python project and start developing.
You will be using a termminal program like (terminal or iterm) for doing most of the setup required. If you have never used a terminal program ordo not know how to use the terminal and setup environment variables, take a few minutes and get familiar with the terminal program. Here are a few articles to help you with that.
https://lifehacker.com/5633909/who-needs-a-mouse-learn-to-use-the-command-line-for-almost-anything
http://osxdaily.com/2015/07/28/set-enviornment-variables-mac-os-x/
On Mac OS X, the default version of python is 2.x (like 2.7.10). To check the currently installed version, type python —version in the terminal shell prompt. If python is already installed, you should see a valid version like Python 2.7.10. If python is not installed, download python from https://www.python.org/downloads and install it.
You will most likely want to keep the source code for your project under a source code control system like git. Again, Mac OS X probably already have a version of git installed. Check if git installed and install it if required.
On Mac OS X git will be available if Xcode and Apple command line tools are installed. Type git from the terminal prompt. If git is installed you should see git command like options and help message. If XCode and Apple command line tools are not installed, you will be prompted to install Xcode. Click Install to install Xcode and Apple command like tools. When this completes git should be available in the system.
Some packages may require HomeBrew. If HomeBrew is not installed, install it.
$ which brew
If HomeBrew is not installed (if which brew command returns an error like brew not found), install it. Follow the instruction in https://brew.sh/
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
Follow the prompts to install. May ask for password. If Home brew is installed (if which brew command returns a valid path like /usr/local/bin/brew), update it.
brew update
Install pip if it not already installed. pip is the official python package manager.
Check if pip is already installed.
which pip
If which pip command returns an error like pip not found, install it. Follow the instructions in https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/installing/ to install pip. If pip is already installed (if the which pip command returns a valid path like /usr/local/bin/pip), skip this step.
Install pipenv if not already installed. pipenv is the officially recommended python packaging tool. It automatically creates and manages a virtualenv for your projects, as well as adds/removes packages from your Pipfile as you install/uninstall packages.