Here we use Python 2.7 as an example to demonstrate the installation and configuration of Python in Windows and Linux.

Windows

1. Download

Go to the Python official website and download an appropriate version. In this example, we download Python 2.7.13.

2. Install

Double click the Python installer package, and install Python as instructed.

3. Configure environment variables

After installation, right click Computer, click Properties -> Advanced system settings -> Environment Variables -> System variables (S) to find "Path" (if it does not exist, create one). Add the Python installation path ;C:\Python27 (change it to your installation path) to the end of "Variable value", and click OK to save.

4. Test whether the configuration is successful

Click Start (or shortcut: Win+R) -> Run (enter cmd) -> OK (or press Enter), enter the Python command in the pop-up window, and press Enter.

Linux

1. Check the Python version

Linux’s yum comes with Python. So check the default Python version first.

python -V

If it comes with Python 2.7 or above, ignore the following steps. Otherwise (for example, if it comes with Python 2.6.6), enter the following command:

yum groupinstall "Development tools"

2. Install the component used to compile Python

yum install zlib-devel bzip2-devel openssl-devel ncurses-devel sqlite-devel

3. Download and decompress Python 2.7

wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.12/Python-2.7.12.tar.xz
tar xf Python-2.7.12.tar.xz

4. Compile and install Python

cd Python-2.7.12 //Enter the directory
./configure –prefix=/usr/local
make && make install //Install
make clean 
make distclean

5. Direct the system Python command to Python 2.7

mv /usr/bin/python /usr/bin/python2.6.6
ln -s /usr/local/bin/python2.7 /usr/bin/python

6. Test whether the configuration is successful

python

If the following message appears, Python 2.7 is installed and configured successfully:

Note:
If permission-related errors occur, try to add sudo before command.