Panda3D Manual: Starting Panda3D
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To start Panda3D, create a text file and save it with the .py extension. PYPE and IDLE are Python-specific text-editors, but any text editor will work. Enter the following text into your Python file:

import direct.directbase.DirectStart
run()

DirectStart loads most of the other Panda3D modules, and causes the 3D window to appear. The run subroutine contains the Panda3D main loop. It renders a frame, handles the background tasks, and then repeats. It does not normally return. In this particular example, there will be nothing to render, so you should expect a window containing an empty grey area.

To run your program, type this at the command prompt:

ppython filename.py

If Panda3D has been installed properly, a gray window titled Panda appear. There is nothing we can do with this window, but that will change shortly.

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