Open Weight Models · macOS · Lesson 2

Install Ollama and check your setup

Prepare your computer and verify that your local Ollama service is ready.

macOS version. Use Terminal for terminal commands. The exercises and setup instructions below are tailored to this version.

What you will learn

Install Ollama using the official instructions for your operating system.
Distinguish the command-line client from the background service.
Verify that the client is installed and can reach the local service without downloading a model.
Recognise an empty model list as a valid starting state.

Prepare your Mac

This version uses the native Ollama application and Terminal. Keep your operating-system, chip, memory, and free-space notes from lesson 1. Follow your organisation's software installation process if the Mac is managed.

The ollama command is a client; the running app provides the local service it contacts. A recognised command and a reachable service are separate checks. Install and verify the runner now; download the course model in lesson 3.

Check the current macOS requirement in the official guide before opening the installer.
Use Terminal for the commands in this version. Open a new window after installation so it sees the available commands.
Keep the native app running during the practical lessons. There is no need to launch an additional server alongside it.

Install the native Ollama app

Download the macOS disk image from ollama.com. Open it, drag Ollama into Applications, then launch the installed app. Follow its setup prompt to make the ollama command available if it is missing from your PATH.

Use this app as the service owner throughout the course. Opening another Terminal window creates another client, not another server. If you see an address-in-use error after running ollama serve, the app may already be providing the service; try the verification commands before changing anything.

Keep one server owner

A foreground ollama serve process is a separate way to run the service. It is not part of this app-based setup. Do not run it alongside the desktop app on the same port.

Check the Mac client and local service

Open a fresh Terminal window and run the commands below one at a time. Record the reported version and any warning. A returned model table confirms a service response; an empty table is a valid result before the first download.

If Terminal cannot find ollama, reopen the installed app and revisit its command-line setup. If the command exists but cannot connect, confirm the app is running and retry. Keep these failure types separate in your notes.

Check the Mac client and local service
Observation	Next step
Version printed and a model table returned	Record the result; an empty inventory is fine.
Command not found	Check app installation and command-line setup, then open a new Terminal window.
Connection failure	Open Ollama from Applications and retry the service check.

macOS Terminal: verify without downloading a model · bash

ollama --version
ollama list

Check Python before the programming lessons

Run python3 --version. The later scripts require a working Python 3 interpreter. A missing command or a developer-tools prompt does not establish that a suitable Python installation is ready.

If needed, use a supported Python 3 installer from Python.org's macOS downloads page. Read its requirements, run the .pkg installer, and complete the official setup steps, including the supplied certificate setup. Open a new Terminal window and repeat the version check. Do not alter Apple's system Python files.

Our scripts use the standard library. Once Python is ready, you do not need to install an Ollama Python package or any other project dependency. Save the interpreter version with your course setup record.

macOS Terminal: check the interpreter · bash

python3 --version

Put it into practice

Record a verified Mac setup

Install Ollama using the macOS guide, launch it from Applications, and complete its command-line setup if prompted.
Open a fresh Terminal window. Run ollama --version and ollama list, recording the real output and any warnings.
Run python3 --version. If a working Python 3 is unavailable, follow Python.org's macOS installation guide and check again.
Record how you start the native Ollama app and explain why it does not need a second ollama serve process.
Investigate any command or connection error before continuing; model downloads belong to lesson 3.

You have completed this task when…

The Ollama client version and Python 3 version are recorded.
ollama list returns a table while the native app is running; an empty table is accepted.
Your record distinguishes the Terminal client from the app's local service.

Official documentation

Use these references for platform requirements, current options, and further detail.