Setting Up Your Python Environment#
Getting started with Python can be made easier with the right tools and environments. In this section, we’ll explore how to use Google Colab for Python programming and how to set up a Python environment in Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
Using Google Colab for Python#
Google Colab is a free, cloud-based service that provides an environment to write, run, and share Python code. It is particularly useful for machine learning, data analysis, and education. The biggest advantage of using Colab is that it requires no setup, and you can access powerful computing resources, including GPUs and TPUs.
For a comprehensive guide on how to use Google Colab, you can watch this introduction video on YouTube.
Hint
For beginners in Python, it is highly recommended to start with Google Colab. It’s user-friendly and requires no initial setup, making it an excellent platform for newcomers to learn and experiment with Python code.
Setting Up Python in VS Code#
If you prefer to work on your local machine, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a great option. It is a powerful, extensible, and free code editor that supports a wide range of languages including Python.
First, ensure that Python is installed on your machine. You can download and install Python from python.org.
After installing Python, you can use pip, Python’s package installer, to set up your environment. For example, to install a popular library like NumPy, you would run the following command in your terminal:
pip install numpy
Additionally, it’s highly recommended to install the Python extension and Jupyter Notebook extension for VS Code. These extensions greatly enhance Python programming in VS Code by providing features like IntelliSense, code navigation, notebook support, debugging, and more.
While Google Colab is excellent for getting started quickly without any setup, setting up Python in VS Code provides more flexibility and control, especially for development on your local machine.
Conclusion#
Whether you choose Google Colab for its ease of use and access to high-end computing resources, or VS Code for its powerful local development features, you have great options for Python development. Both platforms have strong communities and extensive documentation to help you along your journey in Python programming.