Hi, welcome back.

Okay, so I think we are ready to start playing around with Python. Before you can work with Python, you need to install it on your system. We’re also going to be using something called an IDE or an editor. I’m using VS Code, but you can download whichever one you like.

Installing Python

• Linux Users: Python usually comes pre-installed, so you may not need this step.
• Windows & macOS Users: Go to the python.org website. Under the Downloads section, select your operating system (Windows or macOS).
  • On Windows, you’ll see 64-bit and 32-bit installers. Most modern laptops use 64-bit, so the 64-bit installer is recommended.
  • On macOS, download the macOS installer. The installation process is similar to installing any other application on your system.

Once installed, Python will be ready on your machine.

Installing Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Now that you have Python installed, you need somewhere to write your Python code. While you could use any text editor, I highly recommend Visual Studio Code (VS Code). It’s a powerful and flexible editor for almost any programming language.

• On Linux, you can download the .deb or .rpm packages.
• On Windows or macOS, the website will guide you to the correct installer.

The installation is straightforward, just like installing any other software on your system. Once installed, open VS Code — your interface should look similar to mine.

Setting Up VS Code for Python

Before writing any Python code, you need to install an extension:

1. In VS Code, go to the Extensions tab (look for the square icon on the sidebar).
2. Type Python in the search bar.
3. Select the Python extension by Microsoft.
4. Click Install.

This extension makes writing and running Python code much easier.

Writing Your First Python Program

1. Create a new file named main.py. (.py is the extension for Python files.)
2. In the file, type the following code:

print("Hello World")

This is known as the Hello World program — a traditional first step in any programming language.

3. At the top-right of VS Code, click the Run Python File button.
4. Look at the output section. You should see:

Hello World

🎉 Congratulations! You just wrote and executed your first Python program.