[IPython-User] how to start ipython

[Gene Leynes]

Thomas,

Thanks for your response.

I noticed some references to PIP, but I didn't realize that it was a
preferred method.  I'll switch to that in the future.

My biggest frustration was that I didn't know how to use "easy_install".  I
was trying to run it from python instead of the command line, and I was
trying to plug in URLs or zip archive downloads.  Turns out it's a lot
easier than that (and I'm sure pip is the same).

Also, thanks for pointing out the glaringly obvious search mechanism on the
main iPython page, I totally missed it.

The search tool is nice, but I was looking for something more like this:
http://python.6.n6.nabble.com/IPython-f1646921.html
I personally prefer markmail over nabble, but iPython is not on Markmail
yet.

I ended up running most of my installations from binaries, so the
shortcomings of easy_install didn't impact me.  At one point, while looking
at some setup script, it seemed that it relied on some environmental
variables that I didn't have; specifically PYTHONPATH.  I added it, but I
don't think it mattered for what I ended up doing.  However, I got the
impression that some environmental variables used to get created, and they
don't anymore.

I found a great web post about installing Python and its modules on Windows:
http://blog.sadphaeton.com/2009/01/20/python-development-windows-part-1installing-python.html
http://blog.sadphaeton.com/2009/01/20/python-development-windows-part-2-installing-easyinstallcould-be-easier.html

Thanks again,

Gene

On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 5:06 AM, Thomas Kluyver <takowl@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 14 January 2012 21:02, Gene Leynes <gleynes@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Sorry for asking a basic question that had already been answered.  If I
>> had seen a link to a searchable archive of this help list on the main
>> iPython site, then I would have used that first!
>>
>
> Don't worry, these things happen, and in fact I didn't find this problem
> with a few searches on the mailing list. Just to nitpick, though: the
> search box on the top right of the website includes the mailing lists.
>
> Problem 2) I didn't have "setuptools" installed, which I guess iPython
>> uses (and other libraries also use this, so it's probably good to have).
>> Solution to problem 2) I had to run the setuptools installation.  A very
>> good explanation of this is in the *answers* in this URL:
>>
>> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1756721/what-is-causing-importerror-no-module-named-pkg-resources-after-upgrade-of-pyth
>>
>
> Nowadays you probably want distribute, a fork of setuptools that's
> actively maintained. Instructions here:
> http://pypi.python.org/pypi/distribute#installation-instructions
>
> We think distribute/setuptools is necessary on Windows to create the start
> menu shortcuts, but we'd love to be proved wrong on this. The core
> developers mostly use Linux and Mac, so there's certainly room for
> contributions for better Windows support.
>
> Best wishes,
> Thomas
>
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