part igetting started with python understanding the importance of the readme file many applications include readme file the readme file usually provides updated informa tion that didn' make it into the documentation before the application was put into produc tion status unfortunatelymost people ignore the readme file and some don' even know it exists as resultpeople who should know something interesting about their shiny new product never find out python has readme txt file in the \python directory when you open this fileyou find all sorts of really interesting informationhow to build copy of python for linux systems where to find out about new features in this version of python where to find the latest version of the python documentation what you need to do to test custom python modifications how to install multiple versions of python on the same system how to access bug and issue tracking for python how to request updates to python how to find out when the next version of python will come out opening and reading the readme file will help you become python genius people will be amazed that you really do know something interesting about python and will ask you all sorts of questions (deferring to your wisdomof courseyou could always just sit therethinking that the readme is just too much effort to read how to convert your older python applica tions to work with python opening the command line python offers number of ways to interact with the underlying language for exampleyou worked bit with the integrated development environment (idlein idle makes it easy to develop full-fledged applications howeversometimes you simply want to experiment or to run an existing application oftenusing the command-line version of python works better in these cases because it offers better control over the python environment through command-line switchesuses fewer resourcesand relies on minimalistic interface so that you can focus on trying out code rather than playing with gui