Skip to main content

(Optional) Set Up the Environment

This section will guide you through installing Python and the VS Code text editor on both Windows and Mac. Additionally, it will explain how to validate each installation. Skip this lesson if you've already installed Python and a plain-text editor on your computer.

Install Python​

On Windows​

Download the Python Installer​

  1. Visit the official Python website at python.org.
  2. Download the latest version of Python for Windows.

Run the Installer​

  1. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
  2. Ensure to select "Add Python to PATH" before clicking "Install Now."

Validate the Installation​

  1. Open Command Prompt and type python --version.
  2. If the installation was successful, Python's version number will be displayed.

On Mac​

Download the Python Installer​

  1. Visit the official Python website at python.org.
  2. Download the latest version of Python for Mac.

Run the Installer​

  1. Run the installer and follow the prompts.

Validate the Installation:​

  1. In a terminal, type python3 --version to check the installed version. The output should be similar to the following one: 
    Python 3.9.10

Install a Text Editor​

A text editor is essential for writing and managing your code. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular, free, and feature-rich editor. Note that you can also use a different text editor.

Download VS Code​

  1. Visit the Visual Studio Code website.
  2. Download the version appropriate for your operating system.

Install VS Code​

  1. Run the downloaded installer.
  2. Follow the installation prompts.

Validate the Installation​

  1. Find the VS Code application on your computer. It's typically located in the Applications folder on macOS or in the Start menu on Windows.
  2. Double-click the VS Code application icon to open it.
  3. Once you have VS Code open, go to the menu bar at the top and select File > New File.
  4. In the save dialog, navigate to the directory where you want to save your file.
  5. Name your file test.py. Make sure to include the .py extension, which specifies that it's a Python file.
  6. In the open test.py file, paste the following print statement: 
    print("Hello, world!")
  7. Press Ctrl + S on Windows or Cmd + S on macOS to save the file.
  8. Select the Save button.
  9. To open the integrated terminal at the bottom of the VS Code window, go to the menu bar at the top, select Terminal > New Terminal.
  10. In the terminal, type python3 test.py to run your Python code. If VS Code is correctly installed and configured with Python, you should see "Hello, world!" printed in the terminal.