Setting Up Python Environment 🛠️: Installing and Configuring Python

Intermediate

Before coding in Python, you need to set up your development environment. This involves installing Python and choosing suitable tools.

Step 1: Download Python Visit the official Python website (https://python.org) and download the latest version compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).

Step 2: Install Python Run the installer, ensuring you check 'Add Python to PATH' during installation on Windows for easy access via command line.

Step 3: Verify Installation Open your terminal or command prompt and run:

python --version

You should see the installed version. On some systems, you might need to use python3 instead.

Step 4: Choose an IDE or Editor Popular options include Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, or Sublime Text, which offer syntax highlighting, debugging, and code completion.

Step 5: Install Essential Packages Use pip, Python’s package manager, to install libraries:

pip install numpy pandas matplotlib

This sets up a robust environment ready for development.