==================================
Getting Started
==================================

.. contents::

.. _howtopypy:

What is PyPy ?
==============

In common parlance, PyPy has been used to mean two things.  The first is the
`RPython translation toolchain`_, which is a framework for generating
dynamic programming language implementations.  And the second is one
particular implementation that is so generated --
an implementation of the Python_ programming language written in
Python itself.  It is designed to be flexible and easy to experiment with.

This double usage has proven to be confusing, and we are trying to move
away from using the word PyPy to mean both things.  From now on we will
try to use PyPy to only mean the Python implementation, and say the
`RPython translation toolchain`_ when we mean the framework.  Some older
documents, presentations, papers and videos will still have the old
usage.  You are hereby warned.

We target a large variety of platforms, small and large, by providing a
compiler toolsuite that can produce custom Python versions.  Platform, memory
and threading models, as well as the JIT compiler itself, are aspects of the
translation process - as opposed to encoding low level details into the
language implementation itself. `more...`_

.. _Python: http://docs.python.org/reference/
.. _`RPython translation toolchain`: translation.html
.. _`more...`: architecture.html

Just the facts
==============

Download a pre-built PyPy
-------------------------

The quickest way to start using PyPy is to download a prebuilt binary for your
OS and architecture.  You can either use the `most recent release`_ or one of
our `development nightly build`_.  Please note that the nightly builds are not
guaranteed to be as stable as official releases, use them at your own risk.

.. _`most recent release`: http://pypy.org/download.html
.. _`development nightly build`: http://buildbot.pypy.org/nightly/trunk/

Installing PyPy
---------------

PyPy is ready to be executed as soon as you unpack the tarball or the zip
file, with no need to install it in any specific location::

    $ tar xf pypy-2.1.tar.bz2
    $ ./pypy-2.1/bin/pypy
    Python 2.7.3 (480845e6b1dd, Jul 31 2013, 11:05:31)
    [PyPy 2.1.0 with GCC 4.4.3] on linux2
    Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
    And now for something completely different: ``PyPy is an exciting technology
    that lets you to write fast, portable, multi-platform interpreters with less
    effort''
    >>>>

If you want to make PyPy available system-wide, you can put a symlink to the
``pypy`` executable in ``/usr/local/bin``.  It is important to put a symlink
and not move the binary there, else PyPy would not be able to find its
library.

If you want to install 3rd party libraries, the most convenient way is to
install distribute_ and pip_:

    $ curl -O http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py

    $ curl -O https://raw.github.com/pypa/pip/master/contrib/get-pip.py

    $ ./pypy-2.1/bin/pypy distribute_setup.py

    $ ./pypy-2.1/bin/pypy get-pip.py

    $ ./pypy-2.1/bin/pip install pygments  # for example

3rd party libraries will be installed in ``pypy-2.1/site-packages``, and
the scripts in ``pypy-2.1/bin``.

Installing using virtualenv
---------------------------

It is often convenient to run pypy inside a virtualenv.  To do this
you need a recent version of virtualenv -- 1.6.1 or greater.  You can
then install PyPy both from a precompiled tarball or from a mercurial
checkout::

	# from a tarball
	$ virtualenv -p /opt/pypy-c-jit-41718-3fb486695f20-linux/bin/pypy my-pypy-env

	# from the mercurial checkout
	$ virtualenv -p /path/to/pypy/pypy/translator/goal/pypy-c my-pypy-env

Note that bin/python is now a symlink to bin/pypy.

.. _`distribute`: http://www.python-distribute.org/
.. _`pip`: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/pip


Clone the repository
--------------------

If you prefer to `compile PyPy by yourself`_, or if you want to modify it, you
will need to obtain a copy of the sources.  This can be done either by
`downloading them from the download page`_ or by checking them out from the
repository using mercurial.  We suggest using mercurial if one wants to access
the current development.

.. _`downloading them from the download page`: http://pypy.org/download.html

You must issue the following command on your
command line, DOS box, or terminal::

    hg clone http://bitbucket.org/pypy/pypy pypy

This will clone the repository and place it into a directory
named ``pypy``, and will get you the PyPy source in
``pypy/pypy`` and documentation files in ``pypy/pypy/doc``.
We try to ensure that the tip is always stable, but it might
occasionally be broken.  You may want to check out `our nightly tests:`_
find a revision (12-chars alphanumeric string, e.g. "963e808156b3")
that passed at least the
``{linux32}`` tests (corresponding to a ``+`` sign on the
line ``success``) and then, in your cloned repository, switch to this revision
using::

    hg up -r XXXXX

where XXXXX is the revision id.


.. _`compile PyPy by yourself`: getting-started-python.html
.. _`our nightly tests:`: http://buildbot.pypy.org/summary?branch=<trunk>

Where to go from here
======================

After you successfully manage to get PyPy's source you can read more about:

 - `Building and using PyPy's Python interpreter`_
 - `Learning more about the RPython toolchain and how to develop (with) PyPy`_
 - `Tutorial for how to write an interpreter with the RPython toolchain and make it fast`_
 - `Look at our benchmark results`_

.. _`Building and using PyPy's Python interpreter`: getting-started-python.html
.. _`Learning more about the RPython toolchain and how to develop (with) PyPy`: getting-started-dev.html
.. _`Tutorial for how to write an interpreter with the RPython toolchain and make it fast`: http://morepypy.blogspot.com/2011/04/tutorial-writing-interpreter-with-pypy.html
.. _`Look at our benchmark results`: http://speed.pypy.org

.. _setuptools: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/setuptools

Understanding PyPy's architecture
---------------------------------

For in-depth information about architecture and coding documentation
head over to the `documentation section`_ where you'll find lots of
interesting information.  Additionally, in true hacker spirit, you
may just `start reading sources`_ .

.. _`documentation section`: index.html#project-documentation
.. _`start reading sources`: getting-started-dev.html#start-reading-sources

Filing bugs or feature requests
-------------------------------

You may file `bug reports`_ on our issue tracker which is
also accessible through the 'issues' top menu of
the PyPy website.  `Using the development tracker`_ has
more detailed information on specific features of the tracker.

.. _`Using the development tracker`: coding-guide.html#using-development-tracker
.. _bug reports: https://bugs.pypy.org/


.. include:: _ref.txt
