Ubuntu linux

Ubuntu is one of many free linux distributions that you can easily install and will have python and other programming tools already installed and ready to use.

1. download the disk image ( .iso file)
2. burn to a DVD disk
3. boot your computer from that disk and either:

3a. run it "live" from the disk without touching your system
3b. install the operating system to your boot disk and replace your old one
3c. install Ubuntu linux beside your existing one, and boot to either.


This last one 3c, is great but you can only use one at a time (your original operating system or Ubuntu).

Actually more fun, when you get to that point, is to download and install a free desktop virtualization software (VMWare Player, VirtualBox, ..  ), create a virtual machine and boot that VM with the .iso image that you downloaded.    Everything in the VM (virtual machine) runs as if it were on a physical machine.  This needs enough memory and disk space, but you can create different workspaces for different projects.

Even on a single computer, you can create separate "virtual environments" using this: https://virtualenv.readthedocs.org/en/latest/  or read up http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/  (hint: google "virtualenv" for latest info).