There are many python distributions, many python versions (2.7.xx, 3.nn) and… many ways to use python:

• interactively or by running a script (or running a script and then typing interactive commands)
• using python in a Linux terminal, the Spyder GUI (Graphical User Interface) a Windows cmd terminal or powershell, a Mac terminal, or whatever GUI the distribution you have installed on Windows or Mac provides
• using the default python interpreter or the ipython interpreter
  

   > python
  Python 3.6.7 | packaged by conda-forge | (default, Feb 28 2019, 09:07:38)
  [GCC 7.3.0] on linux
  Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
  >>> "python interpreter in a terminal".upper()
  'PYTHON INTERPRETER IN A TERMINAL'
  >>>
  
   > ipython
  Python 3.6.7 | packaged by conda-forge | (default, Feb 28 2019, 09:07:38)
  Type 'copyright', 'credits' or 'license' for more information
  IPython 7.3.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python. Type '?' for help.
  
  In [1]: "ipython interpreter in a terminal".upper()
  Out[1]: 'IPYTHON INTERPRETER IN A TERMINAL'
  
  In [2]:
  Do you really want to exit ([y]/n)? y

• using ipython notebooks

Using an ipython notebook means that:

• you will use an ipython interpreter
• in a web browser (rather than a terminal)

Using an ipython notebooks implies the following steps:

1. determine if you will use python on your local computer or a remote computer and go to that computer
   • this mostly depends on the data you need to work. The idea is to move the computation near the data, not to move/replicate the data
2. choose/initialize the distribution and version of python you need to use

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