Python Installation & IDE Setup

This page covers local Python installation and IDE setup. If you just want to try the notebooks without installing anything, use Google Colab as described in the Getting Started chapter.

Python Installation

Download and install the latest Python version from the official website:

• python.org/downloads

Windows

1. Download the installer from python.org

2. Important: Check “Add Python to PATH” during installation

3. Open a terminal and verify: python --version

macOS

1. Download the installer from python.org or use Homebrew:

   brew install python
   

2. Verify: python3 --version

Linux

Python is usually pre-installed. To install or update:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv

Choose an IDE

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) helps you write, run, and debug code more efficiently.

Visual Studio Code

Best for: General-purpose development, web projects, or if you work with multiple languages

• Free, lightweight, and highly extensible via plugins

• Download: code.visualstudio.com

• Install the Python extension for syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and Jupyter support

• Built-in terminal and Git integration

PyCharm

Best for: Larger Python projects, software engineering, and teams

• Download (free and paid tiers): jetbrains.com/pycharm

• Powerful refactoring tools, built-in debugger, and project-wide code navigation

Tip

Not sure which to pick? Choose VS Code if you want flexibility and plan to do more than just Python, PyCharm if you’re building larger applications or working in a team. VS Code runs Jupyter Notebooks directly in the editor.

Using Jupyter Notebooks Locally

In VS Code

1. Open a .ipynb file or create a new one via Ctrl+Shift+P → “Create: New Jupyter Notebook”

2. Select a Python kernel (interpreter) from the top-right dropdown

3. Run cells with Shift+Enter

In JupyterLab

1. Install JupyterLab: pip install jupyterlab

2. Start it: jupyter lab

3. Create a new notebook from the launcher