ActivePython 3.2 User Guide

Welcome, and thank you for using ActivePython. This is ActivePython 3.2.2.3. This release corresponds to Python version 3.2.2. ActivePython is ActiveState's complete and ready-to-install distribution of Python. It provides a one-step installation of all essential Python modules, as well as extensive documentation.

ActivePython is available for:

• Windows/x86 and Windows/x64,
• Mac OS X (Universal build),
• Linux/x86 and Linux/x86_64,
• Solaris SPARC and x86,
• HP-UX, and
• AIX.

ActivePython includes the Python core and the many core extensions: zlib and bzip2 for data compression, the Berkeley DB (bsddb) and SQLite (sqlite3) database libraries, the Tix GUI widgets for Tkinter, ElementTree for XML processing, ctypes (on supported platforms) for low-level library access, and others. The Windows distribution ships with PyWin32 -- a suite of Windows tools developed by Mark Hammond, including bindings to the Win32 API and Windows COM. See What's Included for full details.

ActivePython ships with a wealth of documentation for both new and experienced Python programmers. In addition to the core Python docs, ActivePython includes the "What's New in Python" series, "Dive into Python", the Python FAQs & HOWTOs, and the Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs). See Helpful Python Resources for a full list.

User Guide Contents:

• The Install Notes give detailed installation instructions for all platforms.
• What's Included describes what makes up ActivePython in more detail.
• Getting Started with ActivePython provides some helpful pointers for getting started whether you are new to ActivePython, new to this version of Python, or trying out ActivePython on a new platform.
• PyPM Tutorial: Using the Python Package Manager (PyPM) included with ActivePython.
• The Release Notes include a version history, known issues and detailed notes about the changes in each release.
• The ActivePython License
• The ActivePython FAQ answers some frequently asked (and anticipated) questions about the ActivePython distribution.

The latest ActivePython documentation is available online at docs.activestate.com . Many other Python resources and general information about Python at ActiveState is available here .

ActiveState's Python Tools

Have you tried Komodo IDE yet? Komodo IDE is ActiveState's multi-language, cross-platform integrated development environment that features powerful editing and debugging support for Python. Try a free evaluation . Komodo IDE's features include:

support for local and remote Python debugging; the regular expression toolkit (Rx); background Python syntax checking, a Code Browser, autocomplete, calltips; full HTML/XML/CSS/JavaScript support for your Python-based web programming; Emacs and Vi keybindings; and more.

The Python Cookbook on ActiveState Code! Need a recipe? Take a recipe. Have a recipe? Leave a recipe. The Python Cookbook on ActiveState Code is a collaborative code repository for Python programmers. Find code snippets for your own projects and contribute your own code snippets to the Python community - all for free.

Contact ActiveState

• Please send any feedback regarding the installer or any other aspect of ActivePython to ActivePython-feedback@activestate.com.
• Bug Reports Submit ActivePython bugs to the ActivePython Bug Database . Please include all relevant information that you think will help us recreate the circumstances in which the bug was observed. Core Python bugs should be reported to the core Python bug database .
• Mailing Lists ActiveState hosts a number of mailing lists of interest to the Python community, including a list specifically devoted to ActivePython. See Python Lists on ActiveState List Archives for more information.
• Installation Support For installation-related support, send an email to support@activestate.com. You may also post in the ActivePython community forums.