How it works...

If you are planning on using OS X, you might want to set up a separate Python distribution on your machine for a few reasons. First, each time Apple upgrades your OS, it can and will obliterate your installed Python packages, forcing a reinstall of all previously installed packages. Secondly, new versions of Python will be released more frequently than Apple will update the Python distribution included with OS X. Thus, if you want to stay on the bleeding edge of Python releases, it is best to install your own distribution. Finally, Apple's Python release is slightly different from the official Python release and is located in a nonstandard location on the hard drive.

There are a number of tutorials available online to help walk you through the installation and setup of a separate Python distribution on your Mac. We recommend an excellent guide, available at http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/starting/install/osx/, to install a separate Python distribution on your Mac.