downloading and installing python you'll need to install software called the python interpreter the interpreter program understands the instructions you'll write in the python language 'll just refer to "the python interpreter softwareas "pythonfrom now on important notebe sure to install python and not python the programs in this book use python and you'll get errors if you try to run them with python it is so important 've added cartoon penguin in figure - to tell you to install python so you do not miss this message figure - an incongruous penguin tells you to install python on windowsdownload the python installer (the filename will end with msiand double-click it follow the instructions the installer displays on the screen to install pythonas listed here select install for all users and then click next install to the :\python folder by clicking next click next to skip the customize python section on mac os xdownload the dmg file that' right for your version of os from the website and double-click it follow the instructions the installer displays on the screen to install pythonas listed here when the dmg package opens in new windowdouble-click the python mpkg file you may have to enter the administrator password click continue through the welcome section and click agree to accept the license post questions to