source code manually compiling the source code offers more flexibility in terms of choice of features that you require in your installation here is quick overview of installing python on various platformsunix and linux installation here are the simple steps to install python on unix/linux machine open web browser and go to follow the link to download zipped source code available for unix/linux download and extract files editing the modules/setup file if you want to customize some options run /configure script make make install this installs python at standard location /usr/local/bin and /usr/local/lib/pythonxx where xx is the version of python its libraries at windows installation here are the steps to install python on windows machine open web browser and go to follow the link for the windows installer python-xyz msi file where xyz is the version you need to install to use this installer python-xyz msithe windows system must support microsoft installer save the installer file to your local machine and then run it to find out if your machine supports msi run the downloaded file this brings up the python install wizardwhich is really easy to use just accept the default settingswait until the install is finishedand you are done macintosh installation recent macs come with python installedbut it may be several years out of date see with extra tools to support development on the mac for older mac os' before mac os (released in )macpython is available jack jansen maintains it and you can have full access to the entire documentation at his website mac os installation