Your First Dev Environment
Install VSCode, set up Python, and learn essential terminal commands — a complete beginner's walkthrough from zero to running code.
your first Python script
Visit the official site and download the installer for your OS:
🔗 code.visualstudio.com/download
Windows: Double-click VSCodeSetup.exe → accept licence → Next → Install → Finish.
macOS: Open the .dmg → drag Visual Studio Code into Applications.
Linux (Ubuntu / Debian):
sudo apt install ./code_*.deb
Launch VSCode. Open the built-in terminal with:
Ctrl + ` (backtick) ← opens the terminal panel inside VSCodePress Ctrl + Shift + X → search and install these:
Get the latest stable version:
macOS with Homebrew:
brew install python
Ubuntu / Debian:
sudo apt update sudo apt install python3 python3-pip
python --version
# Linux / macOS:
python3 --versionpip --version
# or
pip3 --versioncode --version
Or inside VSCode: Help → About.
In VSCode: File → Open Folder → create or pick a folder (e.g. my-projects). Click the New File icon in the Explorer sidebar and name the file hello.py.
# My first Python program print("Hello, World!") print("I am learning Python 🐍") name = input("What is your name? ") print(f"Nice to meet you, {name}!")
python hello.py # Hello, World! # I am learning Python 🐍 # What is your name? _
pip install requests # HTTP library pip install numpy # numbers & arrays pip install flask # simple web framework
pip list # all installed packages pip show requests # info about one package pip uninstall requests # remove a package
pip freeze > requirements.txt # save packages list pip install -r requirements.txt # restore on another machine
pwd # print current directory path ls # list files (Linux/macOS) dir # list files (Windows) cd my-folder # enter a folder cd .. # go up one level mkdir new-folder # create new folder touch hello.py # create empty file (Linux/macOS) echo. > hello.py # create empty file (Windows) rm hello.py # delete file (Linux/macOS) del hello.py # delete file (Windows) clear # clear the screen
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + S | Save file |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + / | Toggle line comment |
| Ctrl + D | Select next occurrence |
| Ctrl + P | Quick open any file |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Command palette |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle integrated terminal |
| Alt + ↑ / ↓ | Move line up / down |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Delete current line |
| F5 | Run / debug current file |
You're Dev-Ready!
VSCode installed, Python running, first script done — you're officially a developer. Keep building!