Installation instructions on a Mac

Adjusting your keyboard language

While using the software for this course, your computer’s keyboard language must be set to English. If needed, please follow these instructions to change your keyboard language.

Installing Python and Spyder

1. Go to the installation page for Spyder.

2. Under the heading for Standalone installers, click on the link for macOS Installer.

   Important: If you receive an error message that says you are downloading from an unsafe or unknown site, you’ll need to change your security preferences, at least temporarily, by taking the steps outlined in the Lowering security settings section below.

3. Go to your download folder and launch the disk image (.dmg) file.

4. When presented with the end-user license agreement, click Agree.

5. When presented with a Spyder window, click and drag the Spyder icon to the Applications folder shortcut.

6. Try to run Spyder by using the Spotlight tool to search for and run the program.

   Important: The first time that you attempt to run Spyder, macOS may offer to trash the file because it’s not from an identified developer. Don’t trash it, but click Cancel instead. Next, do the following:

   • go to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Security -> General

   • click the lock icon in the lower-left corner to unlock

   • click the button Open Anyway to allow Spyder.app to run.

   Important: Some macOS users have reported seeing an error message in the IPython console. The error message begins with the word “Traceback”, and it continues for many lines. If you are seeing this message, you should:

   • uninstall Spyder
   • use an alternative set of directions to install Spyder as part of larger set of tools known as Anaconda.

Configuring Spyder

Once you have installed Spyder, you must configure it by following the instructions found here.

Installing the virtual desktop software

At some point during the semester, you may need to use a virtual desktop that has been created for students in CS courses. To do so, you need to install the VWware Horizon Client as follows:

1. Go to the VMware download page.

2. Find the row in the product table that says VMware Horizon Client for Mac and click the Go to Downloads link found on the right-hand side of that row.

3. On the resulting page, click the blue Download Now button.

4. If you receive an error message that says you are downloading from an unsafe or unknown site, you’ll need to change your security preferences, at least temporarily, by taking the steps outlined in the Lowering security settings section below.

5. Go to your download folder and launch the disk image (.dmg) file.

6. When presented with the end-user license agreement, click Agree.

7. When presented with a VMware Horizon Client window, click and drag the VMware Horizon Client icon to the Applications folder shortcut.

To use this software off-campus, you will also need to use BU’s virtual private network, which you can download by following the instructions found here:

Setting Up and Using the VPN

Lowering security settings

OS X may stop you from downloading or running applications downloaded from the Web (as opposed to through the Mac App Store) unless you lower your security settings. Here’s how to adjust them so that you may install and run applications from anywhere:

1. Open System Preferences, located under the Apple menu in the top left corner.
2. In the Security & Privacy preference pane, click the lock icon and authenticate as an administrator user.
3. Make sure the radio button under Allow applications downloaded from: is set to Anywhere.
4. Re-download or re-open the desired application.

Last updated on January 6, 2023.