Raspberry Pi Python: Interactive Mode

Did you know Python has an interactive mode?

Here's why it's a great place to start coding with Python:
   • you can be coding in seconds
   • type any Python statement and see the results immediately
   • Python tells you if there's something it doesn't understand
   • it's an interactive way to experiment and gain confidence

So, boot up your Raspberry Pi and let's get started.

Python's interactive mode runs in a Linux terminal window. Two simple steps are all that's required:

Open a new terminal window

From the LXDE Desktop menu on your Raspberry Pi and select the 'Other->Terminal' option.

This will open a new terminal window.

Start the Python interpreter

Next to the '$' command prompt type 'python' and press the 'Enter' key, as below:

$ python

You'll see a short message about the version of Python, and the interactive mode cursor '>>>' will appear.

Now you can type any Python statement and press the 'Enter' key to see the results.

Discover more about the Raspberry Pi and Python in my Raspberry Pi posts.