Learn Python Chapter 1 – Download and Install Visual Studio Code

Introduction

Python is a widely used programming language. Known for its simplicity and versatility, Python supports web development, data science, automation, artificial intelligence, and more. If you’re starting with Python, setting up a development environment is crucial. This article guides you through the process of downloading and installing Visual Studio Code (VS Code), an excellent and lightweight editor for Python development.

What is Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code is an open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports many programming languages, including Python. The editor is lightweight, easy to use, and comes with features like debugging tools and extensions.

VS Code works well for Python development, offering a streamlined and customizable experience. Unlike other complex IDEs, VS Code is simple, focusing on the features you need. It’s cross-platform, meaning it works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it an ideal choice for developers everywhere.

Steps to Download and Install Visual Studio Code

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the Visual Studio Code website, where you can download the editor for your operating system. The site detects your OS and provides the appropriate download option.

2. Download the Installer: Click the download button to get the installer file. It should download quickly, depending on your internet speed.

3. Run the Installer: Open the downloaded installer file to begin installation. Follow the instructions in the setup wizard. You can use default settings or customize the installation, such as adding VS Code to your system PATH for easy access.

4. Launch VS Code: Once installed, open Visual Studio Code. You might be prompted to install updates or additional components. Make sure to keep the software up-to-date.

Setting Up Python in Visual Studio Code

To start writing Python code in VS Code, you need to install the Python extension.

1. Install the Python Extension: Open VS Code, go to the Extensions view (click the Extensions icon on the left), and search for “Python.” Click “Install” on the Python extension by Microsoft.

2. Verify Python Installation: Open the terminal in VS Code (go to “Terminal” > “New Terminal”) and type python --version to check if Python is installed. If not, download Python from python.org and install it.

3. Configure Python Interpreter: Choose the correct Python interpreter for your project by clicking on the Python version in the status bar (bottom-left corner). Select the version you want to use for your project.

Writing Your First Python Code in VS Code

After setup, you can start coding in Python.

1. Create a New Python File: In VS Code, go to “File” > “New File” and save it with the .py extension (e.g., hello.py).

2. Write Your Code: Type this simple Python code:

   python

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   print("Hello, World!")


   This will print “Hello, World!” when executed.

3. Run Your Code: To run the code, open the terminal in VS Code and type:

   bash

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   python hello.py


   If everything is set up correctly, you should see the output:

    

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   Hello, World!


Conclusion

Visual Studio Code is a great tool for Python development. It’s easy to set up, efficient, and offers many features for writing, testing, and debugging code. By following the steps above, you’ve now installed VS Code and set it up for Python.

Now that your environment is ready, you’re ready to dive deeper into Python and start building more complex programs. Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we’ll explore Python’s core concepts and get hands-on with more code.