How to Set Up a Python Development Environment

Python is a versatile and beginner-friendly programming language used in web development, data science, automation, and more. A properly setup development environment is essential for writing, testing, and running your Python code efficiently.

This guide walks you through:

Installing Python
Setting up Visual Studio Code
Creating a virtual environment
Running your first Python script

What You’ll Need

Computer: Windows, macOS, or Linux
Internet Connection: To download tools and libraries
Text Editor: Visual Studio Code (VS Code) recommended
Time: 15–30 minutes for initial setup

Step 1: Install Python

1.1 Download Python

Visit python.org/downloads
Choose the latest version (Python 3.12 or higher)

1.2 Install Python

Windows:
- Run the installer
- ✅ Check “Add Python to PATH”
- Click “Install Now”
macOS:
- Run the .pkg installer and follow the prompts
Linux (Ubuntu example): bashCopy codesudo apt update sudo apt install python3 python3-pip

1.3 Verify Installation

Open Terminal or Command Prompt and run:

bashCopy codepython3 --version

Expected output:

nginxCopy codePython 3.12.1

Step 2: Set Up Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

2.1 Install VS Code

Download from code.visualstudio.com
Follow the installer instructions for your OS

2.2 Install Python Extension

Launch VS Code
Go to Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X)
Search Python and install the one by Microsoft

2.3 Configure VS Code

Open a project folder: File > Open Folder
Set Python interpreter: arduinoCopy codeCtrl+Shift+P > "Python: Select Interpreter"

Step 3: Create a Virtual Environment

Virtual environments isolate project dependencies to avoid conflicts.

3.1 Create Environment

In your terminal:

bashCopy codepython3 -m venv myenv

3.2 Activate Environment

Windows: bashCopy codemyenv\Scripts\activate
macOS/Linux: bashCopy codesource myenv/bin/activate

✅ When activated, you’ll see (myenv) in your terminal.

3.3 Deactivate

bashCopy codedeactivate

Step 4: Install a Package (e.g., `requests`)

With the virtual environment active, install requests:

bashCopy codepip install requests

Verify with:

bashCopy codepip list

Step 5: Write & Run Your First Python Script

5.1 Create `hello.py`

In VS Code, create a new file hello.py and add:

pythonCopy codeimport requests

print("Hello, Python!")
response = requests.get("https://api.github.com")
print(f"GitHub API Status: {response.status_code}")

5.2 Run the Script

Click the Run button in the top-right
Or run in terminal:

bashCopy codepython3 hello.py

Expected output:

yamlCopy codeHello, Python!
GitHub API Status: 200

Step 6: Troubleshooting Tips

Problem	Solution
`Python not found`	Ensure it’s installed and added to PATH
`ModuleNotFoundError`	Activate the virtual environment and check with `pip list`
Code not running	Confirm interpreter selection and check for typos