Error: Can't find Python executable "python", you set the PYTHON env variable.

If you get this error trying to do an "npm install" in node you probably need to install Python. Duh. I got the error trying to install restler. restler wants a version between 2.5.0 and 3.0.0 so a good candidate may be this. Per this, one will need to add the path to Python at the PATH variable at: Control Panel > Large icons > System > Change Settings > "Advanced" tab (by way of "Advanced system settings" link) > "Environment Variables" button

 
 

C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\11.2.0\server\bin;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\Dell\DW WLAN Card;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\;C:\Program Files\TortoiseHg\;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\binn\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\;C:\Program Files (x86)\nant-0.91;C:\nant-0.91\bin;C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin;C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Web Platform Installer\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NET Web Pages\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Windows Performance Toolkit\;C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd;C:\Program Files\nodejs\;C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\

...is an example of what might be in the PATH variable. You will want to splice in something like "C:\Python27;" here, but be sure you do not overwrite all of the other semicolon-separated items as otherwise you may sabotage something else. For example, with the node stuff gone a command at the command line such as grunt --vers for returning the lastest version of grunt will return.:

'grunt' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.