Python interactive shell

Python interactive shell is also known as Integrated Development Environment (IDLE). With the Python installer, two interactive shells are provided: one is IDLE (Python GUI) and the other is Python (command line). Both can be used for running simple programs.

For complex programs and executing large files, the windows command prompt is used, where after the system variables are set automatically, large files are recognized and executed by the system.

The preceding screenshot is what we call Python IDLE, which comes bundled with the Python installation. The next screenshot is of the command line that also comes bundled with the Python installation, or we can simply launch the Python command through the windows command line and get Python command line. For most of our programming instructions, we will be using the Python command line: