Setting Up Python

🐍 Setting Up Python

Your journey to becoming a developer starts here.

🎯Learning Objectives

✓
Install Python on your computer
✓
Set up a professional code editor
✓
Write your first real program
✓
Troubleshoot common issues

🚀 Quick Start Motivation

"This is the moment you become a real programmer! In the next 15 minutes, you'll have a professional coding environment ready to build amazing things."
1

Install Python

Choose your operating system below

🪟
Windows

For Windows 10/11

1
2

Click "Download Python 3.x.x"

3

Run the installer

!

CRITICAL: Check "Add Python to PATH"

Command Prompt
>python--version
Python 3.12.1
🍎
macOS

For Mac computers

1
2

Download macOS installer

3

Open the .pkg file

Terminal
$python3--version
Python 3.12.1
🐧
Linux

Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.

Ubuntu / Debian

bash
$sudoaptinstall python3

Fedora / RHEL

bash
$sudodnfinstall python3

➜ Verification

# Check if installed correctly:

$python --version

# Output should look like:

Python 3.12.1

🎉 If you see the version number, you are ready!
2

Choose Your Weapon (Editor)

RECOMMENDED
VS Code

The industry standard. Powerful, beautiful, and free.

  • ✓ Professional grade
  • ✓ Huge ecosystem
  • ✓ Great Python support
Download VS Code
Thonny

Designed specifically for beginners.

  • ✓ Zero setup
  • ✓ Simple interface
  • ✓ Built-in Python
Download Thonny
IDLE

The default editor that comes with Python.

  • ✓ No download needed
  • ✓ Very lightweight
  • ✓ Good for quick tests
Already Installed
3

Interactive Setup Mission

📋 Mission Checklist
0% Ready
Terminal — python
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3693]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
➜ ~
4

Your First Real Program

Let's create your very first Python script!

💻 Let's write some code!
1

Open your code editor

VS Code, Thonny, or IDLE

2

Create a new file and save it as

first_program.py
3

Type the code below exactly as shown:

python
print("🎉 Welcome to Python Programming!")
print("This is MY first program!")
print("I can write code now!")
print("The future starts here! 🚀")
🚀
Run it!

Press F5 or click the Run button in your editor

python first_program.py→Execute your program

🛠️ Practice Time

🎨
Exercise 1: Personalize It

Make the program about YOU. Fill in the blanks:

python
print("My name is: __________")
print("I love: __________")
print("Fun fact: __________")
🧮
Exercise 2: Calculator

Python is a powerful calculator. Try this:

python
print("Math Time! 🧮")
print(5 + 3)
print(10 - 2)
print(4 * 2) 
print(16 / 2)

🔍 Troubleshooting

🚫 "python not found"

Windows: You likely missed "Add to PATH" during install. Reinstall and check that box!

Mac/Linux: Try typing python3 instead.

📄 File won't run

Did you save it? Is it named .py? Are you in the right folder in terminal?

🤔 Editor issues

VS Code too complex? Switch to Thonny for now. It's much simpler!

How confident do you feel?

Help!UnsureOkayGoodPro!
Let's do this! 💪

🧠 Knowledge Check

Question 1 of 7
Multiple Choice
What does 'Add Python to PATH' do during installation?

📚 Quick Summary

  • ✓
    Installed Python successfully
  • ✓
    Set up a professional code editor
  • ✓
    Wrote your first .py program
  • ✓
    Ran code in the terminal

🌟 Achievement Unlocked

Environment Setup Pro

+20 XP Points

Badge Earned!

💡

Pro Tip

"Every professional developer started exactly where you are right now. The setup might feel technical, but you've just built the foundation for everything you'll create. This is the hardest part - it gets much easier from here!"

🎮 Bonus Challenge: Explorer Mode

Ready to show off? Try these extra missions:

1Create a program that prints your top 3 favorite movies
2Make a star pattern using print statements
3Find and run the Python interactive shell in your terminal

Ready for Level 2? 🚀

You now have a professional coding environment! In the next step, you'll learn about Variables and start building interactive programs.

✅ Mark this step as complete to unlock the next lesson!
Next: Python Applications →