# Install and run Melder

Start with Python 3.14 or newer. The saved example curriculum uses the
free-threaded build of Python 3.14.

## Check your interpreter

```bash
python -VV
```

A free-threaded interpreter includes `free-threading build` in that output.
The official Python installation guide explains how to select that build:
[Python support for free threading](https://docs.python.org/3.14/howto/free-threading-python.html).

On Windows, an installed free-threaded 3.14 interpreter can be selected explicitly:

```powershell
py -3.14t -VV
```

## Install the package

Use the same interpreter for installation and execution:

```bash
python -m pip install melder
```

```powershell
py -3.14t -m pip install melder
```

Melder declares one runtime dependency, pip, which the install brings with it at
the version Melder pins. Application code imports the public namespace as
`import melder as md`.

## Check a downloaded file

Melder's releases are published to PyPI from this repository's release workflow,
which signs every file it uploads: a PEP 740 attestation, recorded in Sigstore's
public transparency log, names the repository, the workflow and the commit that
published the file. `pypi-attestations`, a tool from PyPI's maintainers, checks a
file against that record:

```bash
python -m pip install pypi-attestations
pypi-attestations verify pypi --repository https://github.com/Synaptic724/melder \
    pypi:melder-<version>-py3-none-any.whl
```

`pypi:<file name>` downloads that file from PyPI and checks it. Give a path instead
to check a file you already have, such as one saved by
`python -m pip download melder==<version> --no-deps`. The command prints
`OK: <file name>` when the attestation verifies and the reason when it does not.
Releases published before Melder moved to Trusted Publishing carry no
attestation, and the command reports that it found none. pip does not check
attestations when it installs a package.

## Get the runnable examples

The Examples section provides individual source views and complete level
downloads. A collection download preserves its directory structure and local
helpers. From the extracted collection root, run the command printed on the
lesson page.

If working from the repository itself, install the current checkout first:

```bash
python -m pip install -e .
python UX_and_AIX_experiences/01_beginner/01_hello_meld.py
```

Keep the package version and the documentation version aligned when comparing
behavior. The first lesson gives you a small complete script with assertions.


## Runnable examples

- [Hello Melder](../examples/hello-melder.md) — Beginner 01

[All beginner examples](../examples/beginner/index.md) · [Level contents](index.md) · [Full contents](../contents.md)

[Canonical page source](https://github.com/Synaptic724/melder/blob/90d52e0a12cb0743d62568d5a19ce954a54443bc/docs/beginner/install.md)