Jason R Briggs

Python Installation on Older Macs

ERRATA

If you are...

  1. running an older version of Mac OS X (perhaps one no longer supported by Apple), and
  2. experience issues with IDLE hanging after you start it

...you may need to use a script to launch IDLE. Follow these steps to setup the script:

  1. Click the Spotlight icon (the small magnifying glass at the top-right corner of the screen)
  2. In the box that appears, enter Automator.
  3. Click the application that looks like a robot when it appears in the menu. It will either be in the section labeled Top Hit or in Applications.
  4. Once Automator starts, select the Application template:
    launcher-application-template.png
  5. Click Choose to continue.
  6. In the list of actions, find Run Shell Script, and drag it to the empty panel on the right. You’ll see something like this:
    launcher-run-shellscript.png
  7. In the text box, you’ll see the word cat. Select the word and replace it with the following text (everything from open to -n): open -a "/Applications/Python 3.2/IDLE.app" --args -n
    (you may need to change the directory depending on the version of Python you installed).
  8. Select File>Save, and enter IDLE as the name.
  9. Select Desktop from the Where dialog, and then click Save.

When you double-click on this icon you should hopefully get a working version of IDLE.