You can add python to PATH by rerunning the same installer you used to install it. There will be a "modify" choice, and in the next two pages are options to adjust the parts of python installed, and to add it to "the environment"-- the PATH.
I would suggest using 3.7. 3.8 is likely to work, but at this time I do not believe 3.9 has functioning pygame wheels, and this will be a pain point for students. On Fri, Oct 23, 2020 at 4:45 PM claudio canepa <ccanep...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Question 1: If someone already has installed Python but did not check > this box on, is there some simple command line magic to do whatever this > checkbox does? If so, what do I need to tell my student to do? > > With a python 3.X installed they need replace 'python' by 'py -3.X' in > the cmdline. > Examples, for a python 3.7 installation: > To invoke the interactive interpreter: > py -3.7 > To run a script: > py -3.7 myscript.py > > Another difference with unix-like OSes is that the python's Scripts > directory is not on the path, so pip (and other commands in Scripts) need a > full qualified path in the command, like > c:\python37\Scripts\pip install ... > or the alternative form > py -3.7 -m pip install .. > > I don't know if it would be better to work from a venv: > > Create venv > py -3.7 -m venv venv_path > Activate > venv_path\Scripts\activate > > After that, in that console 'python' would be the python in the venv, and > venv_path\Scripts will be in the PATH, so commands like 'pip', 'pytest', > etc would work fine. > > To deactivate the venv: > deactivate > > > Question 2: If someone does not have Python installed yet (or wants to > install a newer version), what is the most recent version of Python (Mac > and Windows) that I should ask them to install today? I understand that > there is a big effort to get the 2.0 version of Pygame out, but I want my > students to use version 1.9 for now. If they install the current version > of Python: 3.9, will they be able to use pip to install a working version > of pygame 1.9? (Last time I checked, this did not work correctly? > > python 3.8 has been tested more time; also 3.9 is not compatible with > windows7, which maybe some students have in their house. > > > On Fri, Oct 23, 2020 at 7:08 PM Irv Kalb <i...@furrypants.com> wrote: > >> I am teaching a Python class, where I use pygame to demonstrate OOP >> concepts. I need to have my students get the proper environment to run >> Python with pygame. >> >> I use a Mac, and I have Python 3.7.3, and pygame 1.9.6 installed. >> Everything works fine for me. But I have students who either have Python >> already installed and need to install pygame, or who need to install both >> Python and pygame. >> >> I am not a Windows user, and I typically don't use the command line for >> anything other than installations. My understanding is that if you are on >> Windows, and you want to use pygame, then during the installation of >> Python, when the installation puts up dialog box about installing Python, >> you must check the checkbox at the bottom that says: >> >> Add Python 3.x to PATH >> >> Question 1: If someone already has installed Python but did not check >> this box on, is there some simple command line magic to do whatever this >> checkbox does? If so, what do I need to tell my student to do? >> >> Question 2: If someone does not have Python installed yet (or wants to >> install a newer version), what is the most recent version of Python (Mac >> and Windows) that I should ask them to install today? I understand that >> there is a big effort to get the 2.0 version of Pygame out, but I want my >> students to use version 1.9 for now. If they install the current version >> of Python: 3.9, will they be able to use pip to install a working version >> of pygame 1.9? (Last time I checked, this did not work correctly? >> >> Thanks in advance, >> >> Irv >> >> >>
