Getting Set Up
There are several ways to run the Wolfram Language. All of them need a free Wolfram ID (an account at wolfram.com).
Wolfram Cloud (no installation)
Go to wolframcloud.com, sign in, and create a new notebook. The free basic plan has limits on computation time and storage, but it's enough for this whole course. It runs in any modern browser.
Mathematica (desktop)
Mathematica (sold today as part of the Wolfram desktop application) is the full notebook environment for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's commercial, with a free trial; many universities and companies have site licenses, so check before buying.
Wolfram Engine + WolframScript (free for developers)
The Free Wolfram Engine for Developers is the language kernel without the notebook interface, free for non-production use. Download it from wolfram.com/engine. It comes with WolframScript, a command-line program for running code:
$ wolframscript
In[1]:= 2 + 2
Out[1]= 4
In[2]:= Quit[]
The first time you run it, WolframScript asks for your Wolfram ID and
password to activate the engine (online, once per machine). After that,
it prints a banner with the version and shows the In[1]:= prompt.
You can also run a single expression or a script file:
wolframscript -code 'Prime[100]'
wolframscript -file hello.wls
The first prints 541, the 100th prime.
Which should you use?
- Learning — the Wolfram Cloud, or Mathematica if you have access. Notebooks show formulas and plots nicely.
- Scripting and integration — the Wolfram Engine with WolframScript, Jupyter, or VS Code.