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2"Why is Python Installed on my Computer?" FAQ
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4
5What is Python?
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7
8Python is a programming language.  It's used for many different applications.
9It's used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming
10language because Python is easy to learn, but it's also used by professional
11software developers at places such as Google, NASA, and Lucasfilm Ltd.
12
13If you wish to learn more about Python, start with the `Beginner's Guide to
14Python <https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide>`_.
15
16
17Why is Python installed on my machine?
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19
20If you find Python installed on your system but don't remember installing it,
21there are several possible ways it could have gotten there.
22
23* Perhaps another user on the computer wanted to learn programming and installed
24  it; you'll have to figure out who's been using the machine and might have
25  installed it.
26* A third-party application installed on the machine might have been written in
27  Python and included a Python installation.  For a home computer, the most
28  common such application is `PySol <http://pysolfc.sourceforge.net/>`_, a
29  solitaire game that includes over 1000 different games and variations.
30* Some Windows machines also have Python installed.  At this writing we're aware
31  of computers from Hewlett-Packard and Compaq that include Python.  Apparently
32  some of HP/Compaq's administrative tools are written in Python.
33* All Apple computers running Mac OS X have Python installed; it's included in
34  the base installation.
35
36
37Can I delete Python?
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39
40That depends on where Python came from.
41
42If someone installed it deliberately, you can remove it without hurting
43anything.  On Windows, use the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel.
44
45If Python was installed by a third-party application, you can also remove it,
46but that application will no longer work.  You should use that application's
47uninstaller rather than removing Python directly.
48
49If Python came with your operating system, removing it is not recommended.  If
50you remove it, whatever tools were written in Python will no longer run, and
51some of them might be important to you.  Reinstalling the whole system would
52then be required to fix things again.
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54