If Python isn't already available on your system follow the instructions at [the Hitchhiker's Guide to Python](http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/#getting-started) to install Python on your computer.

Exercism currently supports Python3.4, Python3.3 and Python2.7.

The [Python Package Index](https://pypi.python.org/pypi) contains thousands of packages.

Pretty much each of them is installable with `pip install packagename`.

If you don't have __pip__ already, [get it now](https://pip.pypa.io/en/latest/installing.html)!

* [The Python Tutorial](https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/)

* [Learn Python The Hard Way](http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/)

* [Think Python](http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html)

* [The Python Library Reference](https://docs.python.org/3/library/index.html)

Follow the installation instructions for [Python Tools for Visual Studio](https://pytools.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=PTVS%20Installation)

You can either start by creating your own project for working with the Exercism problems or you can download a Visual Studio solution that is already set up.

This is a Visual Studio template that comes pre-configured to work on the problems in as many languages as Visual Studio supports.


1. Download the [Exercism.io Visual Studio Template](https://github.com/rprouse/Exercism.VisualStudio) from GitHub by clicking the Download Zip button on the page.

2. Unzip the template into your exercises directory, for example `C:\src\exercises`

2. Install the [Exercism CLI](http://help.exercism.io/installing-the-cli.html)

3. Open a command prompt to your exercise directory

4. Add your API key to exercism `exercism configure --key=YOUR_API_KEY`

5. Configure your source directory in exercism `exercism configure --dir=C:\src\exercises`

6. [Fetch your first exercise](http://help.exercism.io/fetching-exercises.html) `exercism fetch python`

7. Open the Exercism solution in Visual Studio

8. Expand the Exercism.python project

9. Click on **Show All Files** in Solution Explorer (See below)

10. The exercise you just fetched will appear greyed out. Right click on the folder and **Include In Project**

11. Get coding...


To run the tests, you can do so at the command line, or within Visual Studio.


There's a style guide called [PEP8](http://legacy.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/) that many Python projects adhere to.

Read it when you get a chance!

If you just want a quick overview of some problems in your code, use [pylint](http://www.pylint.org/)!

It can be pretty picky though, so take its results with a grain of salt.

If you don't agree with one of its points, that's a good topic for a discussion in the comments for your program!

If you'd rather have a tool take care of your style issues, take a look at [autopep8](https://github.com/hhatto/autopep8)!

Run `autopep8 -d mycode.py` to get a diff of the changes it proposes and `autopep8 -i mycode.py` to format the code inplace!

Execute tests for an exercise with:

$ cd exercism/python/bob

$ python bob_test.py

Before running all the tests ensure you have pytest installed:

$ pip install pytest

After pytest is installed all tests can be executed with:

$ cd exercism/python/

$ py.test