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The main difficulties we've faced are around cross-platform instructions, specifically Windows. I suppose for basic Python it would be easy enough, but the comp
by ivansavz 4y ago
The main difficulties we've faced are around cross-platform instructions, specifically Windows. I suppose for basic Python it would be easy enough, but the complexity escalates once you need modules and have to run a `pip install` or two, because this requires learning about the command line (which some people have never seen before).
Here are some examples of instructions we've had to watch out for in the past, that are no longer needed when using JupyterLab Desktop:
- Windows installer: make sure to check the box that adds Python to %PATH%
- Use cmd.exe not Power Shell (which has weirdness if using venv[1])
- Run the command `python -m venv myvenv`
- Activate myvenv (OS-specific instructions)
- Run the command `python -m pip install pandas jupyterlab`
- Run `juppyter-lab` to get started
- Press CTRL+C (SIGINT) to stop execution in the end
It's doable, and we were able to run the tutorials since we had several co-hosts available to help beginners when they got stuck, but we definitely lose some momentum every time we try to run things this way.
[1] https://docs.python.org/3/library/venv.html#:~:text=On%20Microsoft%20Windows%2C%20it%20may%20be%20required%20to%20enable%20the%20Activate.ps1 https://docs.python.org/3/library/venv.html#:~:text=On%20Mic...
- ivansavz 4y agoAnother strategy that works really well with beginners is to use jupter notebooks via https://mybinder.org/ https://mybinder.org/ links. We put all the materials on github, and then send the workshop participants a link[2] that launches a remote jupyter lab, so they don't have to install anything at all. That works well, but make sure to download your notebook in the end of the session because they are ephemeral (will disconnect if no commands for 20 minutes). [2] Example mybinder link that launches a notebook from a github repo: https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/minireference/noBSstatsnotebooks/main?urlpath=tree/./tutorials/python_tutorial.ipynb https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/minireference/noBSstatsnotebooks/...