I have installed Python, but I don’t remember what I did with the option (at install time) that relates to updating the PATH. Everywhere it says I have to update this. I have gone into system settings, and found the environment variables.
The "User variables" section has a PATH like this:
C:\Users\MYNAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Scripts\;etc etc
The "System variables" section has a PATH that includes this:
C:\windows\system32
In the second one, there is NO Python entry.
Am I doing it right, and what difference does all this make? [edit: In particular, I am curious about further information on how it affects the running of Python scripts, and whether it is needed in the code editor window (white background) when I click "Run" for a program I have typed in.]
So far there is no problem with running this. I can click "Run" in the Python window (white background) and install packages from the Python command-type window (black background).
Thanks in advance.
>Solution :
The PATH variable lets you type python in the command line rather than typing the entire path to the executable. For example:
$ python
>>> 21*2
42
If you only care about GUI-based run buttons (like from the file explorer or an IDE), you might not need to modify PATH. If it’s been working already, you’re fine – you’ll know if you need to set it because everything will break.
That being said, just set it anyways. It shouldn’t hurt anything.