Setup Python & VS Code

🚀 Before You Start Coding: Set Up Your Development Environment

Before diving into Python, let's set up everything you need for a smooth coding experience using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and GitHub for version control.

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✅ Step 1: Download and Install Python

1. Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/

2. Download the latest version (e.g., Python 3.13.3).

3. Run the installer and click “Install Now”.

   • ✅ Make sure to check “Add python.exe to PATH” before installing.

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✅ Step 2: Download and Install VS Code

1. Visit https://code.visualstudio.com/

2. Download the appropriate version for your operating system.

3. Follow the installation instructions.

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✅ Step 3: Set Up VS Code for Python Development

🔌 Install Essential Extensions

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+X (or CMD+Shift+X on Mac) to open the Extensions view.

2. Install the following extensions:

Jupyter (by Microsoft) – for running and debugging notebooks

Python (by Microsoft) – enables Python language support

Rainbow CSV – makes CSV files readable and searchable

Data Wrangler – clean, visualize and prepare tabular data easily

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🎨 Choose a Theme (optional)

Make your coding environment visually comfortable:

1. In the Extensions view, click the filter icon and go to Category > Themes.

2. Some community favorites:

   • Atom One Dark Theme

   • Monokai Pro

   • Min Theme

📸 The third image guides you through choosing and installing themes.

Our favorites

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🎉 Almost done! You now have Python, VS Code working together! Go to the next page to run your first code!