Python Development Setup Guide for Windows

Welcome to your Python development journey! Follow this guide to set up your Windows environment with the necessary tools and configurations. Let’s get started!

1. Software Requirements for Python Setup on Windows

🖥️ Visual Studio Code

Purpose: The main Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python coding.

Steps

Download and Install Visual Studio Code:

1. 📥 Visit the Visual Studio Code website.
2. 🖱️ Download the Windows installer.
3. 🔄 Run the installer and follow the prompts.
4. ➕ Important: Select Add to PATH during setup for easier command-line access.

🛠️ GIT

Purpose: Version control system to track code changes.

Steps

Download and Install GIT:

1. 🌐 Go to Git's official website.
2. 📥 Download the Windows installer.
3. 🔄 Run the installer and choose the default options.
4. ✅ Ensure you select:
   • Use Git from the Windows Command Prompt
   • Enable Git Credential Manager

Verification:

git --version

📊 This command should display the installed Git version.

🐍 Python 3.13

Purpose: The main language runtime.

Steps

Download and Install Python 3.13:

1. 🌐 Navigate to the Python Windows downloads page.
2. 📥 Download the Python 3.13 installer.
3. 🔄 Run the installer and ensure you select Add Python to PATH before clicking Install Now.

Verification:

python --version

🐍 This should output Python 3.13.x, confirming the installation.

2. Minimum Laptop Requirements

To ensure a smooth development experience, your laptop should meet the following specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11.
• Processor: Intel i5 (8th Gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 series or newer).
• RAM: Minimum of 16 GB.
• Storage: SSD with at least 256 GB for faster file access and better overall performance.
• Additional: At least one USB port and stable Wi-Fi capability for software downloads.

Pitfall

⚠️ Insufficient RAM or Storage can lead to sluggish performance and longer load times. Ensure your laptop meets or exceeds the minimum requirements.

3. GitHub Account Setup on Windows

👤 Create a GitHub Account

Steps

1. 🌐 Visit GitHub’s website.
2. 📝 Click on Sign up and follow the prompts to create a free account.
3. 🔑 Choose a unique username and verify your email address.

🔧 Configure Git for GitHub

Steps

1. 🖥️ Open Command Prompt and set up your Git configuration:

   git config --global user.name "Your GitHub Username"
   git config --global user.email "your-email@example.com"

2. 🔑 Generate an SSH Key for secure connection with GitHub:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"

   • 🗂️ Follow the prompts and save the key in the default location (C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_ed25519).

3. 🛡️ Add Your SSH Key to the SSH Agent:

   eval $(ssh-agent -s)
   ssh-add C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_ed25519

4. 📋 Copy the SSH Key to Your Clipboard:

   clip < C:\Users\YourUsername\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub

5. 🌐 Add the SSH Key to GitHub:

   • Go to GitHub > Settings > SSH and GPG Keys > New SSH Key.
   • 🖱️ Paste the key from your clipboard and save it.

📂 Clone a Repository to Test

Steps

1. 🖥️ In Command Prompt, clone a test repository to confirm your GitHub connection:

   git clone git@github.com:username/repository.git

   • 🔄 Replace username and repository with your GitHub details.

Verification:

✅ Successfully cloning a repository confirms that Git and GitHub are correctly set up on your system.

4. VS Code Extensions for Python on Windows

Enhance your development experience by installing the following VS Code extensions:

🛠️ Extension	📄 Description	🔗 Install Link
🐍 Python Extension	Provides debugging, linting, and other features for Python development.	Install
🔍 GitLens	Enhances Git functionality within VS Code for better version control management.	Install
📓 Jupyter	Enables interactive notebooks and data science work.	Install
🖌️ Python Black Formatter	Automates code formatting to adhere to Python's PEP 8 style guidelines.	Install
🌐 Live Server	Launches a local development server with live reload feature.	Install

Steps

How to Install Extensions:

1. 🖥️ Open Visual Studio Code.
2. 📂 Go to the Extensions view by clicking the Extensions icon on the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
3. 🔍 Search for each extension by name and click Install.

Conclusion

🎉 You are now set up with a robust Python development environment on Windows! This setup ensures you have all the necessary tools to write, manage, and version-control your Python projects efficiently. Happy coding!