:orphan:

.. _about-python-shell:

The Python Shell
================

The Python Shell is an excellent tool to experiment with single 
lines of code.

Accessing the Python Shell
--------------------------

To access the Python Shell, in the terminal, 
simply type ``$ python``. Make sure it opens to ``python
3.6`` or higher. On some computers, many versions of Python may be
installed. On our Chromebooks, open the shell with ``$ python3.8``.
It should look something like:
::

    Python 3.8.0 (tags/v3.8.0:fa919fd, Oct 14 2019, 19:37:50) [MSC v.1916 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
    Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
    >>> 

Running commands
----------------
You will know you are in the Python Shell by the three greater-than signs ``>>>``.
You can then type in python code one line at a time to see the result.

>>> 3 + 5
8
>>> a = 6
>>> b = 2
>>> a + b
8
>>> a
6

Exiting the Python Shell
------------------------
To exit the Python shell, press
``ctrl + z`` and press ``ENTER`` (for Windows) or 
``ctrl + d`` (for Linux).
In the shell, pressing ``ctrl + z`` should look like:

>>> ^Z