Downloading and installing Zope
Zope consists of a many individual packages. If you're looking for a care-free way to install the typical set you need to get started with development, try Grok, the Zope framework that even cavemen can use. It will not only make the installation a no-brainer, it has also been specifically geared towards agile development.
Prerequisites
To install any part of Zope, you'll need Python 2.4 or higher. On Linux or other Unix derivates, you'll also need a C compiler (e.g. gcc) and the Python C header files (sometimes contained in a separately installable python-dev package).
Due to the fact that Zope is distributed as Python Eggs, you will also need to install setuptools.
Creating a Grok sandbox
A Grok sandbox is best created using the grokproject tool. You can simply install it from the Python Package Index (PyPI) using easy_install on the command line:
$ easy_install grokproject
You should now have the grokproject command available on your command line. Call it with the name of the sandbox you'd like to create as an argument:
$ grokproject HelloWorld
TODO: More details or links - what do I do now?
Installing other versions of Zope
- If you don't want to develop a Grok application, try zopeproject. It's the pure-Zope equivalent of grokproject.
- If you're looking to run Plone, any other CMF-based application or an older legacy system, you need Zope 2. You may download it here.
TODO: explain zopeproject at least in more detail
Perhaps have subsections with more details of alternative installation methods, and a portlet on the right to quick-link to those sections, e.g. instructions for Grok, Zope 2 and Zope 3.
