Setting Up Your Coding Environment
Learn how to configure your computer with the essential tools and software needed for coding, so you can start writing and running programs right away.
10 lessons
What Is a Coding Environment?
A coding environment is your complete toolkit for writing, running, and testing code — organized and ready to use.
Your Computer Is Your Development Server
You don't need to pay for servers to learn coding. Your laptop is a fully capable development machine.
Installing Python
Python is our primary language for learning. Here's how to install it and verify it's working correctly.
Installing a Code Editor
A code editor is your primary tool for writing programs. VS Code is the most popular choice for beginners and professionals alike.
Installing Node.js
Node.js lets you run JavaScript outside the browser. It's essential for modern web development and useful for comparison examples.
Creating a Workspace Folder
A dedicated workspace folder keeps your coding projects organized and easy to find as your collection grows.
Understanding Project Structure
Projects follow conventional structures that help both humans and tools understand what's inside. Learning these patterns makes any codebase easier to navigate.
What Are Virtual Environments?
Virtual environments isolate project dependencies, preventing conflicts when different projects need different versions of the same library.
What Are Environment Variables?
Environment variables store configuration outside your code — keeping secrets safe and settings flexible across different environments.
Why We Use Python
Python's clean syntax and vast ecosystem make it ideal for learning programming concepts that transfer to any language.
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