๐ Python Development Setup Guide 2025 โ
Welcome to your Python development journey! This guide will help you set up a professional development environment across Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.
๐ป Minimum Hardware Requirements โ
WARNING
Purpose: Ensure your system can handle modern development tools and provide a smooth coding experience.
- ๐ฒ Processor: Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 5/Apple M1 or better
- ๐งฎ RAM: 8GB minimum (16GB recommended)
- ๐พ Storage: 256GB SSD (or faster)
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Display: 1920x1080 resolution or higher
- ๐ Internet: Broadband connection for downloads and updates
โ ๏ธ Insufficient hardware resources can lead to slow development experience and compilation issues.
๐ ๏ธ VS Code Setup โ
Purpose: VS Code is our primary IDE, offering powerful features for Python development.
๐ฅ Installation Steps: โ
Download Visual Studio Code
Install with these options:
๐ช Windows:
- Add "Open with Code" to Windows Explorer context menu
- Add to PATH
- Register as an editor for supported file types
๐ง Linux:
- Download the appropriate package (.deb, .rpm) or snap package
- Install using your package manager
- Add to PATH if not done automatically
๐ macOS:
- Drag to Applications folder
- Install 'code' command in PATH (Cmd+Shift+P โ "Shell Command: Install")
โ Verify installation:
bashcode --version
๐ GitHub Account Setup โ
- ๐ Visit GitHub Signup
- ๐ Fill in your details and choose a username
- โ๏ธ Verify your email address
- โจ Log in and complete your profile setup
๐ฆ Git Setup โ
Purpose: Git enables version control and collaboration with other developers.
๐ง Installation Steps: โ
๐ช Windows:
- Download Git for Windows
- Install with recommended settings:
- Use Git from Git Bash and Windows Command Prompt
- Use main as initial branch name
- Enable Git Credential Manager
๐ง Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git
๐ macOS:
brew install git
๐ Configure Git: โ
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
๐ SSH Key Setup โ
WARNING
๐ก๏ธ Security Setup Steps: โ
๐ Generate SSH Key:
bashssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"
๐ Start SSH Agent:
๐ช Windows:
basheval $(ssh-agent -s) ssh-add C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_ed25519
๐ง/๐ Linux/macOS:
basheval "$(ssh-agent -s)" ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
๐ Copy Key to Clipboard:
๐ช Windows:
bashclip < C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub
๐ง Linux:
bashcat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub | xclip -selection clipboard
๐ macOS:
bashpbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
โ Add to GitHub:
- Visit GitHub.com โ Settings โ SSH Keys โ New SSH Key
- Paste your key and save
โก UV & Python Setup โ
๐ฅ Install UV โ
๐ช Windows:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
๐ง/๐ Linux/macOS:
curl -s https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | bash
๐ฆ All Platforms - Alternative (PyPI):
pip install uv
๐ Update UV:
uv self update
๐ Install Python 3.13.2 via UV โ
- ๐ List Python versions:bash
uv python list
- ๐ฅ Install latest:bash
uv python install 3.13.2
- ๐ Pin version:bash
uv python pin 3.13.2
๐๏ธ Database Tools โ
๐ฝ Installation Steps: โ
๐ช Windows: โ
- SQL Server Express & SSMS:
- PostgreSQL:
- Download and install via the EnterpriseDB PostgreSQL Installer
๐ง Linux: โ
- PostgreSQL (Ubuntu/Debian):bash
sudo apt update sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib
- SQL Server:
- Microsoft provides SQL Server for Linux. For Ubuntu, run:bash
wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | sudo apt-key add - sudo add-apt-repository "$(wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/$(lsb_release -rs)/mssql-server-2019.list)" sudo apt update sudo apt install -y mssql-server sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf setup
- SSMS Alternative: Since SSMS is Windows-only, use Azure Data Studio:bash
sudo snap install azure-data-studio --classic
- Microsoft provides SQL Server for Linux. For Ubuntu, run:
๐ macOS: โ
- PostgreSQL:bash
brew install postgresql
- SQL Server:
- SQL Server isnโt natively supported on macOS but can be run via Docker:bash
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=YourStrong@Passw0rd' -p 1433:1433 --name sql1 -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest
- SSMS Alternative: Use Azure Data Studio:bash
brew install --cask azure-data-studio
- SQL Server isnโt natively supported on macOS but can be run via Docker:
๐ Web Browsers Setup โ
๐ Chrome โ
- ๐ฅ Download:
- ๐ช/๐ Windows/macOS: Google Chrome
- ๐ง Linux:bash
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
๐ฆ Firefox โ
- ๐ฅ Download:
- ๐ช/๐ Windows/macOS: Mozilla Firefox
- ๐ง Linux:bash
sudo apt install firefox
๐ Postman Setup โ
๐ฅ Installation Steps: โ
- Download:
- ๐ช/๐ Windows/macOS: Postman
- ๐ง Linux:bash
sudo snap install postman
- ๐ง Install:
- ๐ช Windows: Run the installer
- ๐ macOS: Drag to Applications folder
- ๐ง Linux: Snap installation handles everything
- ๐ First Launch:
- Create a free Postman account or sign in
- Complete initial setup wizard
๐ Power BI Setup โ
๐ช Windows Setup โ
- ๐ฅ Download Power BI Desktop
- ๐ง Install following the on-screen instructions
- ๐ Sign In with your Microsoft account
๐ง Linux & ๐ macOS Alternatives โ
Power BI Desktop is Windows-only. Consider these alternatives:
- ๐ Apache Superset
- ๐ Tableau (macOS only)
- ๐ Metabase
๐งฉ VS Code Extensions โ
๐ ๏ธ Essential Extensions โ
Extension | Purpose | ๐ Link |
---|---|---|
๐ GitLens | Git supercharged | Install |
โจ Prettier | Code formatter | Install |
๐ Live Server | Development server with live reload | Install |
๐ Ruff | Fast Python linter and formatter | Install |
๐๏ธ Live Preview | Preview HTML files in real-time | Install |
๐ Markdown All in One | Enhanced Markdown support | Install |
๐ผ๏ธ Markdown Paste | Paste images into Markdown | Install |
๐จ Material Icon Theme | Beautiful file icons | Install |
โ๏ธ Multiple Cursor Case | Preserve case with multiple cursors | Install |
๐ Pylance | Python language support | Install |
๐ Python | Python development tools | Install |
๐ Python Debugger | Python debugging support | Install |
๐ญ Better Jinja | Jinja template support | Install |
๐ change-case | Change case of text | Install |
๐ Jupyter | Interactive Python notebooks | Install |
โก Quick Install Command โ
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens && \
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode && \
code --install-extension ritwickdey.LiveServer && \
code --install-extension charliermarsh.ruff && \
code --install-extension ms-vscode.live-server && \
code --install-extension yzhang.markdown-all-in-one && \
code --install-extension telesoho.vscode-markdown-paste-image && \
code --install-extension PKief.material-icon-theme && \
code --install-extension Cardinal90.multi-cursor-case-preserve && \
code --install-extension ms-python.vscode-pylance && \
code --install-extension ms-python.python && \
code --install-extension ms-python.debugpy && \
code --install-extension wholroyd.jinja && \
code --install-extension wmaurer.change-case && \
code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter
โ๏ธ VS Code Configuration โ
๐ฎ Setup Steps โ
๐ Open Settings JSON:
- ๐ช Windows/Linux:
Ctrl+Shift+P
- ๐ macOS:
Cmd+Shift+P
- Type "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)"
- ๐ช Windows/Linux:
โก Apply Settings:
{
"editor.formatOnSave": true,
"editor.formatOnPaste": true,
"editor.defaultFormatter": null,
"editor.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', Consolas, 'Courier New', monospace",
"editor.fontLigatures": true,
"editor.guides.bracketPairs": true,
"editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true,
"editor.suggestSelection": "first",
"editor.minimap.enabled": false,
"editor.renderWhitespace": "boundary",
"editor.linkedEditing": true,
"editor.stickyScroll.enabled": true,
"files.trimTrailingWhitespace": true,
"files.insertFinalNewline": true,
"files.trimFinalNewlines": true,
"workbench.iconTheme": "material-icon-theme",
"workbench.colorTheme": "Default Dark Modern",
"workbench.editor.enablePreview": false,
"explorer.confirmDelete": false,
"explorer.confirmDragAndDrop": false,
"[python]": {
"editor.defaultFormatter": "charliermarsh.ruff",
"editor.formatOnSave": true,
"editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
"source.organizeImports": "always"
},
"editor.rulers": [88],
"editor.wordWrapColumn": 88
},
"[javascript]": {
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
"editor.tabSize": 2
},
"[html]": {
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
"editor.tabSize": 2
},
"[css]": {
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
"editor.tabSize": 2
},
"[markdown]": {
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
"editor.wordWrap": "on",
"editor.quickSuggestions": {
"comments": "on",
"strings": "on",
"other": "on"
}
},
"python.analysis.typeCheckingMode": "basic",
"python.analysis.autoImportCompletions": true,
"terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "Git Bash",
"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
"Git Bash": {
"source": "Git Bash",
"path": ["C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe"],
"icon": "terminal-bash"
}
},
"terminal.integrated.enableMultiLinePasteWarning": "never",
"git.confirmSync": false,
"git.autofetch": true,
"diffEditor.ignoreTrimWhitespace": false
}
๐จ Optional Enhancements โ
๐ FiraCode Font โ
๐ฅ Download:
- Get from FiraCode Releases
๐ง Install:
๐ช Windows:
- Extract zip file
- Open ttf folder
- Select all fonts โ Right-click โ Install
๐ง Linux:
bashsudo apt install fonts-firacode
๐ macOS:
bashbrew tap homebrew/cask-fonts brew install --cask font-fira-code
๐ธ Screenshot Tools โ
๐ช Windows - ShareX โ
- ๐ฅ Download ShareX
- ๐ง Install with default settings
- โ๏ธ Configure:
- Set hotkeys (PrintScreen default)
- Set auto-save directory
- Enable notifications
๐ง Linux Tools โ
๐ธ Flameshot (Recommended):
bashsudo apt install flameshot # Set shortcut: Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts # Command: flameshot gui
๐ท Shutter:
bashsudo apt install shutter
๐ macOS Shortcuts โ
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Full screen:
Cmd + Shift + 3
- ๐ฏ Selection:
Cmd + Shift + 4
- ๐ช Window:
Cmd + Shift + 4 + Space
โ Verification โ
๐ Check Installation โ
# ๐ Python
python --version # Should show 3.13.2
# ๐ฆ Git
git --version
# ๐ ๏ธ VS Code
code --version
# ๐ SSH
ssh -T git@github.com # Should show "Hi username!"
๐ Platform-Specific Checks โ
๐ช Windows:
- Test SQL Server in SSMS
- Launch Power BI Desktop
๐ง/๐ Linux/macOS:
# Test PostgreSQL
psql --version
๐ Conclusion โ
Congratulations! You've set up a professional Python development environment with:
โจ Ready to Use:
- ๐ ๏ธ Essential development tools
- ๐ Secure SSH setup
- ๐ฆ Modern UV package management
- ๐งฉ Powerful VS Code extensions
- ๐ Database tools
Happy coding! ๐