Protecting Patron Privacy Pythonically: Setup

Experienced Python Devs

If you already have a working Python 3 environment, you do not have to install Anaconda as per the instructions below. We will use Jupyter notebooks for the workshop, but you can install them with pip (see the Jupyter website for details.) You can install all of the
libraries we will be using as follows:

pip install --upgrade pip
pip install jupyter pandas pycallnumber

Installing Python Using Anaconda

Python is a popular language for research computing, and great for general-purpose programming as well. Installing all of its research packages individually can be a bit difficult, so we recommend Anaconda, an all-in-one installer.

Regardless of how you choose to install it, please make sure you install Python version 3.x (e.g., 3.6 is fine). Also, please set up your python environment at least a day in advance of the workshop. If you encounter problems with the installation procedure, ask your workshop organizers via e-mail for assistance so you are ready to go as soon as the workshop begins.

Windows

1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/distribution/#windows with your web browser.

2. Download the Python 3 installer for Windows.

3. Install Python 3 using all of the defaults for installation except make sure to check Add Anaconda to my PATH environment variable.

Mac OS X

1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/distribution/#macos with your web browser.

2. Download the Python 3 installer for OS X.

3. Install Python 3 using all of the defaults for installation.

Linux

Note that the following installation steps require you to work from the shell. If you run into any difficulties, please request help before the workshop begins.

1. Open https://www.anaconda.com/distribution/#linux with your web browser.

2. Download the Python 3 installer for Linux.

3. Open a terminal window.

4. Type

   $ bash Anaconda3-
   

   and press Tab. The name of the file you just downloaded should appear. If it does not, navigate to the folder where you downloaded the file, for example with:

   $ cd Downloads
   

   Then, try again.

5. Press Return. You will follow the text-only prompts. To move through the text, press Spacebar. Type yes and press Return to approve the license. Press Return to approve the default location for the files. Type yes and press Return to prepend Anaconda to your PATH (this makes the Anaconda distribution the default Python).

6. Close the terminal window.

Testing Your Install by Starting Jupyter & Python

We will teach Python using the Jupyter notebook, a programming environment that runs in a web browser. Jupyter requires a reasonably up-to-date browser, preferably a current version of Chrome, Safari, or Firefox (note that Internet Explorer version 9 and below are not supported). If you installed Python using Anaconda, Jupyter should already be on your system. If you did not use Anaconda, use the Python package manager pip (see the Jupyter website for details.)

To start the notebook, open a terminal or git bash and type the command:

$ jupyter notebook

This should launch a browser window that looks something like this:

Screenshot of the Jupyter Dashboard

To start the Python interpreter without the notebook, open a terminal or git bash and type the command:

$ python

This should provide output in your terminal that looks something like this:

Screenshot of the Python interpreter

Windows users:

The terminal commands above may not work for you. If not, note the Anaconda Navigator shortcut on your desktop.

Open the Navigator > find and launch Jupyter Notebook Screenshot of the Jupyter Notebook launcher

Once it launches, note that you are looking at a directory listing of your own machine. This is how you will select a Notebook file to launch in the workshop.

Close the Navigator, setup is complete!