> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://datascience4bio.gitbook.io/datascience4bio/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://datascience4bio.gitbook.io/datascience4bio/basics/quickstart.md).

# Installing python

Ready to dive into data science for biology? Follow these steps to set up your environment and start coding!

**Installing Python from Source on Linux**

Installing Python from source gives you more control over the version and optimizations. This guide walks you through downloading, compiling, and installing Python manually. If you work with biological data, chances are you'll handle large omics datasets. Most tools for this kind of data are available exclusively on Linux platforms, so I strongly recommend setting up your Linux machine as soon as possible.

However, if you're working on your personal computer and still want to get started, don’t worry—there’s always an alternative. Windows users can check out [WSL2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install), which allows you to run a Linux environment. I personally used it when I started back in 2021, and believe it or not, I even ran an RNA-seq analysis on it.

{% hint style="info" %}
Please visit the official python  website at the [link](https://www.python.org), for the latest version.
{% endhint %}

* Download and Extract the Source Code\
  `wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.18/Python-3.10.18.tgz`
* Extract the Archive\
  `tar xvf Python-3.10.18.tgz`
* Move in the directory\
  `cd Python-3.10.18`
* Configure the Build

  `./configure --prefix=$HOME/.local`
* Compile the Source Code

  `make`
* Install Python

  `make install`
* Add Python to Your PATH

  `echo 'export PATH=$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc`
* Restart shell session
* `source ~/.bashrc`
* Verify the Installation

  `python3.10 --version`

If you see the expected Python version, the installation is successful!


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://datascience4bio.gitbook.io/datascience4bio/basics/quickstart.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.