[[http://web2py.com|web2py]] is described on the web site as a "free and open source full-stack enterprise framework for agile development of fast, scalable, secure and portable database-driven web-based applications. Written and programmable in Python."  I've begun reading the [[http://web2py.com/book|web2py book]] so that I can use it in my classroom.

This describes how I installed and setup web2py in my home directory.

  0. Download [[http://www.web2py.com/examples/static/web2py_src.zip|web2py_src.zip]].
  0. Open a terminal and run the following commands:
    * {{{$ mkdir lib}}}
    * {{{$ mkdir lib/python}}}
    * {{{$ mkdir bin}}}
  0. Add the following to the bottom of your `.bashrc` file: {{{
      PYTHONPATH=$HOME/lib/python

      export PYTHONPATH}}}
  0. Log out and log back in to allow the new `bin` directory and `PYTHONPATH` to take effect.
  0. Unzip the `web2py_src.zip` file (generating the `web2py` directory), and move `web2py` to your `lib/python` directory.
  0. Create a file named `web2py` in your `bin` directory with the following contents: {{{
      #!/usr/bin/env sh

      cd $HOME/lib/python/web2py
      python web2py.py}}}
     Run `$ chmod +x web2py` to make this shell script executable.
  0. Run the following command from the terminal to install the `python-tk` package:
    * {{{$ sudo aptitude install python-tk}}}
  0. Add a launcher to your top desktop panel:
    * Right mouse click on the panel.
    * Click `Add to Panel`.
    * Click `Custom Application Launcher`.
    * Click `Add`.
    * Set '''Name:''' to `web2py`.
    * Set '''Command:''' to `web2py`.
    * Optionally, set the icon to `lib/python/web2py/applications/examples/static/web2py_logo.png`.
    * Click `Add`.

You should now be able to launch `web2py` by clicking on the launcher.