Python for Data Analysts: Getting Started
Tags: python, datascience, beginners, tutorial
Published: 2022-10-25 14:37:00

## Introduction
Are you a data analyst that has heard of Python, everything it is capable of, and would like to try it but you don’t even know where to get started? Then this article is for you. This is the first in a series of articles to help data analysts break down the invisible barrier between themselves and Python. In this article we will cover how to install Python via Anaconda.

## Installing Anaconda & Python
There are many ways to go about installing and getting started with Python. This article covers the option that utilizes Anaconda. Anaconda provides a friendly interface to access Python and Jupyter Notebooks, along with other tools. When you install Anaconda, Python will also be installed.

### Step 1
To get started, you will need to install Anaconda from their website. Navigate to their downloads page https://www.anaconda.com/products/distribution#Downloads.

### Step 2
Choose the appropriate installer for your system. In my case, that is Windows so I will be covering what this looks like in Windows but it is similar on other systems. Click on the installer to download it.

![Anaconda Installers](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/be0w1fbaslshznhbwg24.png)

### Step 3
Once the installer is downloaded, open the file. I am opening mine directly from my browser, but you can also open it from whichever folder you downloaded the file to.

![Anaconda EXE](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xhc5zg54vp5olmhe79ww.png)
 
### Step 4
You should get a pop-up dialog box that says something like **Welcome to Anaconda3 2022.10 (64-bit) Setup**. Please note that you may see a different version depending on if you are installing this at a later date and/or on a different operating system.

Click on the **<u>Next ></u>** button.

![Anaconda Installer](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4pgev1kth19g093hptur.png)
 
### Step 5
You should now see the **License Agreement** screen. In order to proceed you will need to read and agree to the License Agreement.

If you do, click on the **<u>I Agree</u>** button.

![Anaconda License Agreement](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/khylmy4xf4zcz076ui6z.png)
 
### Step 6
You should now see the **Installation Type** screen. Select the radial button next to _Just Me (recommended)_.

Click on the **<u>Next ></u>** button.

![Anaconda Installation Type](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fb6mr4ds85h49wy58ddi.png)
 
### Step 7
You should now see the **Installation Location** window. Generally, you should leave this as is.

Click on the **<u>Next ></u>** button.

![Anaconda Installation Location](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ugd2q3vxtkvdvi1ju7ay.png)
 
### Step 8
You should now see the **Advanced Installation Options** window. Leave the first box unchecked and make sure the second box is checked.

Click on the **<u>Install </u>**button.

![Anaconda Advanced Options](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wd2q6hsy3n2omxc2e1ly.png)

### Step 9
Once the install is complete you should see the **Installation Complete** window.

Click on the **<u>Next ></u>** button.

![Anaconda Install Complete](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xf70uechaefdrj45clqh.png)

### Step 10
You should now see the **Anaconda + JetBrains** window. You can click the link for more information if you like, but for the purposes of this tutorial click on the **<u>Next ></u>** button.

![Anaconda + JetBrains](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pigsw8zx9099c74jwd81.png)

### Step 11
You should now see the **Thank You for Installing** screen.

I recommend going through both the _Tutorial _and _Getting Started_ guides, especially if you aren’t familiar with Anaconda or Python at all; however, this is not required. For the purposes of this tutorial you can either leave the options checked or you can uncheck them.

Click on the **<u>Finish </u>**button.

Note: If you leave the options checked, tabs will open in your browser to the indicated articles.

![Anaconda Installer Final Screen](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gr9w424oeavtbolhr8ey.png)

### Step 12
Now that you have finished installing Anaconda (and Python), you should check that they are working properly. Navigate to your **Start **menu and find the folder titled **Anaconda3 (64-bit)**, or whatever version you installed for your system, and open it.

Click on **<u>Anaconda Navigator (Anaconda3)</u>**.

Note: This will open Anaconda’s user interface so you can see what other tools you now have access to.

![Anaconda Start Folder](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/emoxjqpsys2wv78hzq21.png)

### Step 13
When you open Anaconda Navigator, be patient it takes a few seconds. Also, note that you may see the command prompt flash a few times along with the Anaconda logo. This is normal.

Note: The first time you open the Navigator, you may be prompted to update. I recommend updating if you are given the option.

Click on the **<u>Yes </u>**button. 

![Anaconda Updater](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wsdb1n3i5e33f0ja9an7.png)

### Step 14
You should now see the **Quit Application** window.

Click on the **<u>Yes </u>**button.

![Anaconda Quit Application](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pi08yfx8hujsomnkk0lh.png)

### Step 15
You should now see the **Anaconda Navigator Updater** window.

Click on the **<u>Update now</u>** button.

![Anaconda Update Now](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/78j5l7ckmkuqcrsh6qbn.png)

### Step 16
You should now see in the **Anaconda Navigator Updater** window that the update was _successful_.

Click on the **Launch Navigator** button.

![Anaconda Launch Navigator](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z5jazn798bm3envh0lea.png)

### Step 17
You should now see **Anaconda Navigator**.

From here you have access to many applications in services, including but not limited to JupyterLab, Jupyter Notebook, and RStudio.

Click on the **<u>Launch </u>**button for _Jupyter Notebook_.

![Anaconda Navigator](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/paudfuqm93dsmwjjiu8f.png)

### Step 18
You should be brought to the Jupyter Notebook landing page in your default browser. The default landing page will show you a list of available folders and files that you can access. This includes files on your pc.

![Jupyter Notebook Landing Page](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m63fpz8fgwubtapodpl1.png)

In order to test that python is truly working on your pc, click on the **<u>New </u>**button, and then the **<u>Python 3 (ipykernel)</u>** option.

![Jupyter Notebook Create New Notebook](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/uqvhnbnk6hnibmx4wel1.png)

### Step 19
You should be brought to a new, blank Jupyter Notebook. Since we are only testing if python works on your pc, you do not need to name or save the notebook. 

![Jupyter Notebook New Notebook](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/t8j0d9o5pu7eqd7vtkh3.png)

In the code block you see, type: `print ("Hello, Python!")`.

![Jupyter Notebook Hello Python Code](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z317045kznr8rfrl61vt.png)

### Step 20
To run the cell and test your code, you have a few options:
A.	Click on the **<u>Run </u>**button.
B.	Press **<u>Ctrl</u>** + **<u>Enter </u>**(on Windows).

If your code successfully runs, then you should see
```
Hello, Python!
```
below your code block as your output.

![Jupyter Notebook Hello Python Successful](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/n1zj753hzk3umeyxdznv.png)

## Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Anaconda, and therefore Python and Jupyter Notebooks (along with many other tools) as well. Now that you have successfully installed, check out the next post in this series to learn more!

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Note: If you are interested in going straight to Jupyter Notebooks to play with Python and do not want to explore the other tools offered by Anaconda, you can open Jupyter Notebooks directly from your Start menu by clicking on Jupyter Notebook (Anaconda3) in the Anaconda3 (64-bit) folder mentioned in step 12.

![Anaconda Start Folder](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/emoxjqpsys2wv78hzq21.png)

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#### Credits:
Photo by Christina Morillo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-programming-on-a-notebook-1181359/