The Python interactive interpreter make it easy to try your first steps in programming and all Python commands. You just issue any command at the command prompt (>>>) one by one and the answer is immediate.

Starting the interactive interpreter in Windows

In Windows click Start -> Programs -> Python -> Python (command line)

This is the Python interactive interpreter prompt in Windows:

Python 2.4.2 (#67, Sep 28 2005, 12:41:11) [MSC v.1310 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

To close the interactive interpreter type Ctrl-Z and then Enter

Starting the interactive interpreter in Linux

In Linux open a shell and type python (must be lower case)

$ python

This is the Python interactive interpreter prompt in Linux:

Python 2.4.1 (#1, May 16 2005, 15:19:29)
[GCC 4.0.0 20050512 (Red Hat 4.0.0-5)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

To close the Python interactive interpreter in Linux type Ctrl-D