Mac OS X

Overview

Because of the wide variety of methods for setting up a Python environment on Mac OS X, users have a number of options with how to install SunPy and its dependencies. We have a number of solutions listed below. Choose the solution which best suits you.

Installation using EPD

One simplest method is to install the Enthought Python Distribution (EPD), which includes both Python and many of dependencies needed by SunPy. The Enthought Python Distribution (EPD) is a metapackage which handles the installation of everything for you.

Install EPD

There are a number versions of EPD available, many of which are not free. For our purposes, however, either of the free versions below will work:

`EPD Free <http://www.enthought.com/products/epd_free.php/>`_
`EPD Academic <<http://www.enthought.com/products/edudownload.php>>`_

Download whichever of the above versions of EPD is appropriate, and follow the instructions provided on the EPD website to install EPD on your system. You can now continue the installation process and install SunPy itself.

Installation using Virtual Box

Virtual box is a free virtual environment that allows you to run linux or other operating systems concurrently with OS X. Since it is very easy to install and maintain SunPy under linux, the idea here is to have your own linux environment on your mac and use it for SunPy. We recommend you use Ubuntu linux in your virtual box. You can download an install disk for Ubuntu at their website. Directions on how to install your first virtual machine on Virtual Box are also available. After your have Ubuntu installed just follow the instructions for linux! Simple.

Other installation methods

For users who wish to have more control over the installation of Python, several alternative installation methods are provided below, including instructions for Macports and Homebrew. The following instructions are not recommended for beginners. OS X comes pre-loaded with Python but each versions of OS X (Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard, etc.) ships with a different version of Python. In the instructions below, we therefore recommend that you install your own version of Python. You will then have two versions of Python living on your system at the same time. It can be confusing to make sure that when you install packages they are installed for the correct Python so beware.

Python 2.7.3+

Download and install the latest version of 32 bit Python 2.7.3 using their DMG installer. Next, choose your package installer of choice (either Macports or Homebrew) and follow the instructions below. If you do not have either go to their respective websites and install one of the other as needed.

Compiler

Download and install XCode from the App Store. Install the compiler by installing the optional “Command Line Tools” as part of XCode. In the latest version of Xcode, this can be found in the preferences under the Downloads tab.

Macports

Macports is a useful To install everything that you need using Macports. First install Macports. You’ll need Xcode and the command line tools. First update the package index:

sudo port selfupdate

To install the basic Python packages, run:

sudo port install py27-matplotlib py27-numpy py27-scipy

To install Qt (this will take a while!), run:

sudo port install qt4-mac

This will install python 2.7 at the same time. To make the macports version of Python the default type the following into a terminal:

sudo port select --set python python27

For more information on using MacPorts to manage your Python installation, see the following page.

Homebrew

Homebrew is a tool for helping to automate the installation of a number of useful tools and libraries on Mac OS X. It is similar to Macports, but attempts to improve on some of the pitfalls of Macports.

Note that if you have already installed either fink or Macports on your system, it is recommended that you uninstall them before using Homebrew.

Next, install and update homebrew:

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(/usr/bin/curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/mxcl/homebrew/master/Library/Contributions/install_homebrew.rb)"
brew doctor

Using homebrew, install Qt and some of the other dependencies needed for compilation later on by pip:

brew -v install gfortran pkgconfig git openjpeg readline pyqt

Now on to the next steps.

Git

Head over and download and install git.

Pip

Most Python distributions ship with a tool called easy_install which assists with installing Python packages.

Although easy_install is capable of installing most of the dependencies needed for SunPy itself, a more powerful tool called pip which provides a more flexible installation (including support for uninstalling, upgrading, and installing from remote sources such as GitHub) and should be used instead.

Use easy_install to install pip:

sudo easy_install pip

You are now ready to install scipy, numpy, and matplotlib.

Scientific Libraries

If pip installed properly, then you can install NumPy simply with:

pip install numpy

Now under Lion, install the stable version of SciPy (0.10) by running:

pip install scipy

Mountain Lion users will need to install the development version of SciPy (0.11) by executing the following line:

pip install -e git+https://github.com/scipy/scipy#egg=scipy-dev

Now on to matplotlib

On Lion, install matplotlib like any other package:

pip install matplotlib

Mountain Lion users will have to use the development version as of this writing:

pip install git+https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib.git#egg=matplotlib-dev

Done! You are now ready to install SunPy itself.

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