We will be using Python for data analysis and modeling in this course. Follow the steps below to install Python and Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
I do not recommend using Anaconda. If it is working, then you can feel free to continue using it. However, many students have issues with package management.
Outcomes:
Open a terminal window (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and follow these steps:
Type in the following command:
python3
If you see a message like Python 3.x.x followed by some information about your Python installation, then Python is already installed on your system. You can exit the Python interpreter by typing exit() and pressing Enter.
If you see an error message indicating that Python is not recognized, you’ll need to install it. Or, if your version is older than 3.8, you should install a newer version.
python3 again to verify the installation.VS Code is our editor. It has a lot of excellent features. However, you will need to do some configuration.
Ctrl+Shift+X).We will use the AI features in VS Code. However, for the first few weeks of the class, using it will significantly hamper your learning. As a result, you will need to log out of the Copilot account. This will generally stop it from suggesting solutions to our problems.
Managing your folders and files is a key skill. When you save a file, it goes into the hard drive on your computer. This hard drive (called the C:\ on Windows) organizes files into certain locations, called folders.
All modern systems store your files in several folders:
Downloads: this is supposed to be temporary spot for files downloaded by Safari or Chrome.Desktop: files/folders visible on your desktopDocuments: where you should store your long-term filesOne wrinkle is that Windows often uses OneDrive. OneDrive is an online service that syncs your local files with servers in the Internet. Files are typically still stored on your computer, but are regularly uploaded. So, if you have OneDrive turned on, typically the OneDrive Downloads/Desktop/Documents is the same as the location on your hard drive (usually C:).
Organize your files: link to video on YouTube
Here is a quick guide for organizing your files, slightly more focused on the Mac. link to video on YouTube
You should have a folder for our class. Then, create a folder for each week or major project. Store your files inside of this folder.
Right-click in a folder, and choose New folder (or press Control+Shift+N)
Right-click in a folder, and choose New Folder
Avoid modifying any files in your download folder. Instead, download them, and then copy them to the appropriate folder.
Guide to using Files Explorer on Windows.
I suggest disabling the Force touch feature:
System PreferencesTrackpad, the Point & Click tabForce click and haptic feedbackRight-click on a file, right-click copy, go to the new place, and click paste.
Or, move a file by opening a separate Finder window, and dragging/dropping your files.
One more thing that would be helpful in our class is to turn on file extensions. This will tell you the hidden information that lives in ever file’s name. So, when you save a Word document as my stuff, it actually is saved as my stuff.docx. The .docx tells the computer to open the file in Word.
As we work with more complex files, you will find that you can not just click on a file to open it in the right program. Instead, get in the habit of opening a program first. Then, inside of the program, open the file (usually by going to the file menu and choosing open).
To turn on: