# 1.1 Installing and Starting Boa Constructor

Boa Constructor can be run on any 32bit windows platform, and on any UNIX platform which is supported by the GTK+ windows toolkit.

### Windows Installation

- Detailed instructions from wxPython.org
- Install a recent version of Python. As of Boa 0.4.0 you must use version 2.2 or later.
- Install the wxPython extensions. The standard installer will install both the wxWidgets libraries and the wxPython wrappers. Ensure that the version of wxPython matches your installed Python version.
- Boa 0.4.0 or higher requires to use at least wxPython 2.5.4.1
- Use the installer for Boa (files ending in "win32.exe"

- Or alternatively create a directory for the Boa Constructor software, e.g. under ..\site-packages\boa

- Extract the Boa Constructor .zip file to this directory. You may need to install a utility such as winzip to extract the zip file.

- Create a shortcut to the file boa.py on your desktop.

- Select the new shortcut to run the Boa Constructor Development Environment.

### UNIX Installation

- Detailed instructions from wxPython.org
- These components can also be installed from binary RPMs.
- Install a recent version of Python. As of Boa 0.4.0 you must use version 2.2 or later.
- If GTK+ is not installed, then build and install it. You must use version 1.2 or later.
- If wxWidgets is not installed, then build and install it. Use the version of wxWidgets for GTK+ (there are several versions, e.g. the Microsoft Windows version). You must use version 2.5 or later.
- If wxPython is not installed, then build and install it. The version of wxPython must match the version of wxWidgets, i.e. 2.5.x for wxWidgets 2.5.x.
- Boa 0.4.0 or higher requires to use at least wxPython 2.5.4.1
- Boa constructor requires that the Scintilla editor (stc) and the open GL (ogl) components for wxWidgets are installed. These components are distributed in both the wxPython and the wxWidgets contrib directories. If in doubt, build and install the versions in the wxPython release.
- Create a directory for the Boa Constructor software, e.g. /usr/local/boa. Extract the Boa Constructor package to this directory. The gunzip program may be required to extract the archive
- Create a symbolic link to boa.py on your path, e.g. `ln -s /usr/local/boa/boa.py /usr/bin`
- In your shell execute boa using the command 'boa.py'

#### You will now see the tools of the Boa Constructor development environment

This is divided into three sections/areas:

- Palette window on top

- A tool bar to open/close application windows
- Multiple tabs

- New - create new modules, applications etc.
- Containers/Layout, Basic Controls etc give you access to different components

- Inspector window on the bottom left

- This section is also used to display e.g. the Debugger or Class Browser
- It is used to change properties of components and to define events.

- Editor/Explorer window on the bottom right

- This section has multiple tabs

- Shell - provides access to a Python interpreter, this makes it very easy/confortable to test out small code sections.
- Explorer - allows to navigate the file system, gives access to the wxPython demo (via a Plug-in), allows to change your preferences for Boa, and it will have additional tabs, one for each file you are working on