What is the best way to install python 2 on OS X?

I use brew to install all my libraries/compilers/interpreters.

To install python try this:

brew install python

Then add Python's binaries directory to your $PATH in your ~/.profile:

export PATH=`brew --prefix python`/bin:$PATH

I'd recommend you to install pip, virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper to have better control over your environment too.

Have you tried ActivePython?

It includes a package manager (PyPM) that, by default, installs into your home directory (eg: ~/Library/Python/2.7). Main scripts get symlinked in /usr/local/bin; use the included pythonselect to set the active Python version.

You don't have to bother installing .dmg packages, as PyPM is a binary package manager ... therefore you can install non-pure Python packages like NumPy without having to compile things yourself.

ActivePython can use Apple's Tcl/Tk or, if installed, ActiveTcl.

A "simplest, most general approach" in your documentation could be:

1. Install ActivePython 2.7
2. Open Terminal and type pypm-2.7 install matplotlib ipython

In almost all cases, the best python to use is the one from http://python.org/. It sets up the paths correctly and doesn't overwrite anything. DMG package installs usually work automatically, as does python setup.py install, and it's not too hard to get setuptools to work. If you want per-user installs, it is easy to set up .pydistutils.cfg and python automatically recognizes the path install_lib = ~/Library/Python/$py_version_short/site-packages