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01. Python Environment Setup

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Before you can write a single line of Python, you need three things ready: Python itself, a good editor to write it in, and a clean way to manage each project's packages. This section gets them all set up on your computer, one step at a time, for macOS, Windows, or Linux. By the end you will have a clean, working setup that every later section builds on, so you never have to stop and fix your tools again.

Section 01: set up your Python workbench. Pick your operating system, install two things, then everyone meets again for the same two steps. On macOS you install Python (download, install, verify, and try the REPL) and install VS Code (the editor, plus the Python extensions). On Windows you do the same two: install Python and install VS Code. Both paths then lead to the same two steps: VS Code Configuration, which is the theme, the file icons, and the course settings; and the course repo in VS Code, which you download, open, and find your way around. Watch the videos for your own operating system: on macOS follow the macOS install videos, on Windows follow the Windows ones, and from VS Code Configuration onward every video is the same for everyone

What You Will Learn in This Section

In this setup section you will:

  • Install Python on your operating system (macOS, Windows, or Linux).
  • Verify the install and test Python in its interactive shell (the REPL).
  • Install Visual Studio Code (VS Code), the editor we use throughout the course.
  • Add the VS Code extensions you need for Python, plus a theme, file icons, and Ruff.
  • Apply a few VS Code settings that make learning smoother.
  • Download the course repo from GitHub and open it in VS Code, ready for every section.

Lessons in This Section

Work through these three lessons in order.

S.No Lesson What you will do
1 Python Install Download, install, verify, and test Python on macOS, Windows, or Linux.
2 Visual Studio Code Install and Setup Install VS Code, add the Python extensions, turn on the theme and icons, and apply the course settings.
3 Setup the Course GitHub Repo Download the course repo from GitHub, unzip it, open it in VS Code, and find your way around the folders.

When you finish the three lessons, read the Recap and Next Steps to review what you set up and see where you go next.

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Start Here Next: Section 02: Variables and Data Types