Learning

How to Install Kivy: A Beginner’s Guide

How to Install Kivy:

Are you ready to start building amazing applications with Kivy? This guide will walk you through the process of installing Kivy on Windows, macOS, and Linux. We will start by installing Python first because without Python Kivy will be useless, then we will move on to installing Kivy. Let’s dive in!

Part 1: Installing Python

Before you can install Kivy, you need to have Python installed on your computer. Kivy supports Python 3.6 and above. If you are using an older version of Python then it can not work to check the version of your Python you have to open the Command Prompt and then write the Python –version it will show you the current version of your Python. Here’s how to install Python on different operating systems:

Step 1: Install Python on Windows

  1. Download Python:
  1. Run the Installer:
  • Run the downloaded installer.
  • Make sure to check the box that says “Add Python to PATH”.
  • Click “Install Now”.
  1. Verify Installation:
  • Open Command Prompt.
  • Type python --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version.

Step 2: Install Python on macOS

  1. Download Python:
  1. Run the Installer:
  • Open the downloaded .pkg file.
  • Follow the installation instructions.
  1. Verify Installation:
  • Open Terminal.
  • Type python3 --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version.

Step 3: Install Python on Linux

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Update Package List:
  • Type sudo apt update and press Enter.
  1. Install Python:
  • Type sudo apt install python3 and press Enter.
  1. Verify Installation:
  • Type python3 --version and press Enter. You should see the installed Python version.

Part 2: Installing Kivy

With Python installed, we can now proceed to install Kivy. Follow the instructions for your specific operating system:

Step 4: Install Kivy on Windows

  1. Open Command Prompt.
  2. Upgrade pip:
  • Type pip install --upgrade pip and press Enter.
  1. Create a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended):
  • Type python -m venv kivy_venv and press Enter.
  • Activate the virtual environment:
    • Type kivy_venv\Scripts\activate and press Enter.
  1. Install Kivy:
  • Type pip install kivy and press Enter.
  1. Install Additional Dependencies:
  • Type pip install kivy[base] kivy_examples and press Enter.
  • Type pip install pypiwin32 and press Enter.

Step 5: Install Kivy on macOS

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Upgrade pip:
  • Type pip3 install --upgrade pip and press Enter.
  1. Create a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended):
  • Type python3 -m venv kivy_venv and press Enter.
  • Activate the virtual environment:
    • Type source kivy_venv/bin/activate and press Enter.
  1. Install Kivy:
  • Type pip install kivy and press Enter.
  1. Install Additional Dependencies:
  • Type pip install kivy[base] kivy_examples and press Enter.

Step 6: Install Kivy on Linux

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Upgrade pip:
  • Type pip3 install --upgrade pip and press Enter.
  1. Create a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended):
  • Type python3 -m venv kivy_venv and press Enter.
  • Activate the virtual environment:
    • Type source kivy_venv/bin/activate and press Enter.
  1. Install Kivy:
  • Type pip install kivy and press Enter.
  1. Install Additional Dependencies:
  • Type pip install kivy[base] kivy_examples and press Enter.

Step 7: Verify the Installation

Let’s make sure everything is installed correctly by running a simple Kivy application.

Instructions:

  1. Open your preferred text editor or IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, or Sublime Text).
  2. Create a new Python file (e.g., main.py).
  3. Copy and paste the following code into the file:
   from kivy.app import App
   from kivy.uix.label import Label

   class MyApp(App):
       def build(self):
           return Label(text="Hello, Kivy!")

   if __name__ == "__main__":
       MyApp().run()
  1. Save the file and run it using your command prompt or terminal:
   python main.py

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Kivy on your system and are ready to start building amazing applications. Remember, the key to mastering Kivy (or any new skill) is practice and experimentation. Happy coding!


Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button