Setting up your development environment is the first step to start programming in Python. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Python, setting up an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and verifying your installation.

1. Download Python:

   • Go to the official Python website: python.org.
   • Navigate to the Downloads section.
   • Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

2. Run the Installer:

   • Open the downloaded installer.
   • On Windows, make sure to check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" before clicking "Install Now".
   • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

3. Verify Installation:

   • Open a terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux).
   • Type python --version or python3 --version and press Enter.
   • You should see the installed Python version number.

An IDE provides a comprehensive environment for writing, testing, and debugging code. Here are some popular IDEs for Python:

1. Download and Install:

   • Go to the VS Code website.
   • Download the installer for your operating system and follow the installation instructions.

2. Install Python Extension:

   • Open VS Code.
   • Go to the Extensions view by clicking the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
   • Search for "Python" and install the extension provided by Microsoft.

3. Configure Python Interpreter:

   • Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
   • Type Python: Select Interpreter and select the Python interpreter you installed earlier.

1. Download and Install:

   • Go to the PyCharm website.
   • Download the Community edition (free) or Professional edition (paid) and follow the installation instructions.

2. Create a New Project:

   • Open PyCharm.
   • Click on "Create New Project".
   • Choose the location and ensure the correct Python interpreter is selected.

1. Install Jupyter:

   • Open a terminal.
   • Install Jupyter using pip (Python's package installer):

   $ pip install jupyter
   

2. Start Jupyter Notebook:

   • In the terminal, type:

   $ jupyter notebook
   

   • This will open Jupyter Notebook in your default web browser.

1. Open Your IDE:

   • Open your chosen IDE (VS Code, PyCharm, or Jupyter Notebook).

2. Create a New File:

   • Create a new Python file (e.g., hello_world.py).

3. Write the Code:

   print("Hello, World!")
   

4. Run the Program:

   • In VS Code or PyCharm, run the program by clicking the Run button or using the terminal.
   • In Jupyter Notebook, create a new cell, type the code, and run the cell.

1. Open your terminal.
2. Type python --version or python3 --version.
3. Verify that the correct version of Python is installed.

1. Open your IDE.

2. Create a new Python file named greet.py.

3. Write a program that asks for the user's name and prints a greeting:

   name = input("Enter your name: ")
   print(f"Hello, {name}!")
   

4. Run the program and verify the output.

In this section, you have learned how to set up your Python development environment, including installing Python, setting up an IDE, and verifying your installation. You also wrote and ran a simple Python program to ensure everything is working correctly. This foundational setup will enable you to follow along with the rest of the course seamlessly. Next, we will dive into Python syntax and basic data types.