title: How To: Install Spyder (Python IDE) on CentOS 6.4
body: <p>I've been spending the past few days trying to install Spyder (the Python IDE) on CentOS 6.4. There are a couple of issues with installing Spyder on CentOS 6.4: the Qt RPM package does not include QtWebKit and the default install of Python is 2.6.6 rather that 2.7.4. These (and other) issues caused me problems which I was unable to find instructions for, so once I figured it out I decided to let others know.</p>
  
  <p>So without further adieu:</p>
  
  <h1>How to Install Spyder (Python IDE) in CentOS 6.4</h1>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Install PyQt4 from the RPM</li>
  <li>Install Distribute (easy_install fork) by downloading the script found <a href="http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py" rel="nofollow" title="distribute_setup.py">here</a> and running it via <code>sudo python distribute_setup.py</code></li>
  <li>Install pip via <code>sudo easy_install pip</code></li>
  <li>Install qt-mobility by downloading the .rpm from <a href="http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat/4/idpl/21255631/dir/centos_6/com/qt-mobility-1.1.3-7.2.x86_64.rpm.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. This installs dependencies required fro the next step.</li>
  <li>Install qtwebkit from <a href="http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat/4/idpl/16463568/dir/redhat_el_6/com/qtwebkit-2.1.1-1.el6.x86_64.rpm.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</li>
  <li>Install PyQt4-webkit from <a href="http://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/6/x86_64/PyQt4-webkit-4.6.2-8.el6.x86_64.rpm" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</li>
  <li>Install Spyder using pip: <code>sudo pip install spyder</code></li>
  <li>Run Spyder by typing <code>spyder</code> into a terminal or by selecting Spyder from the Applicaions -> Programming menu.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>The following packages are highly recommended for Spyder. Install them using <code>sudo pip install &lt;package&gt;</code></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/rope/0.9.4" rel="nofollow">rope</a> (code completion and definitions)</li>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyflakes/0.7.2" rel="nofollow">pyflakes</a> (realtime code analysis / error checking)</li>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pylint/0.28.0" rel="nofollow">pylint</a> (code analysis)</li>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pep8/1.4.5" rel="nofollow">pep8</a> (style analysis)</li>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/psutil/0.7.1" rel="nofollow">psutil</a> (cpu/memory monitor)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The following packages are highly recommended for general Python development. Install them using <code>sudo pip install &lt;package&gt;</code></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/numpy/1.7.1" rel="nofollow">numpy</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/matplotlib/1.2.1" rel="nofollow">matplotlib</a> (Req's numpy)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Note: Do not install IPython. <strike>It requires Python 2.7 whereas the default python installation in CentOS6 is Python 2.6.6.</strike> IPython works with Python 2.6, but Spyder has a small bug where it will not load with IPython 0.13.2 and Python 2.6.6.</p>
  
  <p>If anyone finds anything wrong with these instructions, please respond so I can update them.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>