If you're just starting out, it's easier to begin by running code online and worry about running locally later. You can find more information about running code online here.
| Resources | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOI | for reference, software you can use at IOI | ||||
Code Editors vs IDEs
First, you'll need to decide whether to use a code editor such as Sublime Text or an integrated development environment (IDE) such as Visual Studio. An IDE provides many features beyond just a code editor, though as you won't need most of them for competitive programming, a code editor alone may suit your needs. More Info
Which code editor or IDE should I use?
It depends on your personal preference. Try multiple and see which one you like best.
Using an IDE/Editor
Windows
Python comes with a program, known as IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment), that allows one to write and run Python code. It supports many features, such as syntax highlighting and automatic indentation, that one would normally expect from an code editor.
Alternatively, you can install editing software like PyCharm or VSCode.
Linux
You can use built-in terminal editors, like vim and nano. You can also
install editing software like VSCode. If you don't know how to exit, have a look
at this link.
Using the Command Line
Installation
Windows and Mac
Download Python through the official website.
Linux
If you have apt (the package manager), you can install Python 3 with
sudo apt install python3.8
You can also build from source and install.
Make sure that you are using the correct version of Python. Python 2 is quite different from Python 3 (but parts of the version number beyond 2. or 3. do not matter much). We generally recommend newcomers to use Python 3, but if you are used to programming in Python 2, that is OK too.
The Python version can matter when using the command line to run Python;
sometimes, python3 must be used instead of python in order to run Python 3.
Try both commands, and pay attention to the version that Python prints to
determine if this is the case on your system. For example:
python --version # prints Python 2.7.13 python3 --version # prints Python 3.8.1
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