Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond

Figure 3.1.  Running a Python script from different operating systems. For most

computer systems it is commonplace to open a command-line interface and then type the

‘python’ command followed by the name, or file-system location, of the script, before

pressing the Return or Enter key. For Windows systems the PATH environment variable

will additionally need to be set up, as illustrated in

Figure 3.2

. In Windows Python scripts

are also often run by double-clicking on the file icon or by using the Run menu from the

IDLE editor (e.g. started via ‘Edit with IDLE’ in the right mouse menu for a Python file).

IDLE is often included as part of Python installations for Windows.

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