STEP 3 OF 4 · SETUP

Set up Python & VS Code

Install Python, install VS Code, configure the essentials. Your development environment in 20 minutes.

⏱️ 20 minutes 💻 Mac / Windows / Linux 🆓 All free tools
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Download Python from python.org

Get the latest stable release
🔒python.org/downloads
PY Python Downloads

Download the latest version for your OS

The latest stable release covers all bootcamp work. Pick your operating system.

Mac · Windows · Linux supported

The basics

  • Go to python.org/downloads
  • The site auto-detects your OS. Click the big yellow download button.
  • Always pick the latest stable 3.x release — never Python 2 (it's discontinued).
  • Save the installer somewhere you'll find it (Downloads folder is fine).
💡 Mac users: macOS comes with an old Python pre-installed, but it's not the one you want. Always install fresh from python.org.
2

Install — tick "Add to PATH"

The one box Windows users forget
📦Python 3.x Installer
PY Install Python 3.x

Setup options

This is the box that ruins everyone's day. TICK IT.

The PATH gotcha

  • On Windows: the first screen has a checkbox at the bottom: "Add Python to PATH". TICK IT.
  • If you skip this, your terminal won't recognize the python command. You'll spend 2 hours troubleshooting for no reason.
  • On Mac/Linux: PATH is handled automatically. Just run the installer.
  • Click Install. Takes ~2 minutes.
🚨 Forgot to tick PATH? Re-run the installer, choose "Modify", and tick it now. Or uninstall + reinstall. Don't fight it.
3

Verify Python works

Open a terminal, confirm the install
Terminal — bash
# Verify Python installed correctly shad@laptop:~$

The two commands you run

  • python3 --version — should print something like Python 3.12.2
  • pip --version — should print pip 24.x.x
  • If both work: Python is installed correctly.
  • If you get "command not found": PATH wasn't set. Go back to step 2.
💡 Mac note: use python3 (not python) — Mac has both old and new Python, and python usually points to the old one.
4

Install VS Code

Your editor for everything code
🔒code.visualstudio.com
VS Visual Studio Code

Code editing. Redefined.

Free. Built on open source. Runs everywhere.

Why VS Code

  • Free, made by Microsoft, used by basically every cloud engineer.
  • Has extensions for Python, AWS, Docker, terminal, git — everything you'll need.
  • Download from code.visualstudio.com — auto-detects your OS.
  • Install with default options. Restart your terminal afterward.
📦 Bonus: we'll install three extensions next that turn VS Code into a proper AWS development environment.
5

Install three extensions

Python · AWS Toolkit · GitLens
Terminal — bash
# Install VS Code extensions from the command line shad@laptop:~$

Three commands to run

  • code --install-extension ms-python.python
  • code --install-extension amazonwebservices.aws-toolkit-vscode
  • code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens
  • Or install via the Extensions tab in VS Code — search by name.
💡 What each does:
  • Python: syntax, linting, debugging, virtual envs
  • AWS Toolkit: browse AWS resources, deploy from VS Code
  • GitLens: see who wrote each line, when, and why
⚙️

Development env ready

Python installed, VS Code installed, extensions configured. You're fully set up. Week 1 starts Saturday 23 May.

View the curriculum → ← Back to bootcamp
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