Setting Up Your Development Environment
Before you can begin writing and running Python code, you’ll need to prepare your computer with the right tools. This section will guide you through installing Python and setting up a code editor, ensuring that you have everything you need to follow along with the course.
Installing Python
Python is the programming language we’ll use throughout the course, and installing it is the first step. We’ll cover the process for Windows, macOS, and Linux to ensure compatibility regardless of your operating system.
- Download the latest stable version from the official Python website.
- Run the installer and check the box to add Python to your PATH—-this makes it accessible from the command line.
- Verify the installation by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing
python --version. You should see the version number displayed.
Installing a Code Editor
Good code editors enhances your productivity with features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging tools. For this course, we recommend Visual Studio Code because of its lightweight design and powerful extensions. If you decide to go with this option, make sure to download the Python extention. If you’d like an alternative, PyCharm is a good Python-specific code editor.
Looking Forward
In the next lesson, we’ll write and run your first Python program, introducing basic syntax and the interactive shell.