Featured image for Lesson 0.2 showing Python, Visual Studio Code, and a terminal setup on a laptop

Lesson 0.2 — Installing Python, VS Code, and Using the Terminal

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Module: Module 0 — Getting Started
Estimated Time: 30–45 minutes
Prerequisites: Lesson 0.1 — What Python Is and How Programs Work

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you should have Python and VS Code installed and be able to navigate your computer using a few basic terminal commands.

1. The Need

In the previous lesson, you learned that Python lets us write instructions for a computer.

But right now, those instructions are still only examples on a webpage.

To begin programming for real, you need three things:

  1. Python — the language and software that will run your code
  2. A code editor — where you will write your programs
  3. A terminal — where you can navigate your computer and run commands

We will use Visual Studio Code, usually called VS Code, as our editor.

By the end of this lesson, your computer will be ready for the first program you write yourself.

2. Your Python Workspace

Before installing anything, understand what each tool does.

Python

Python reads and executes the Python programs you write.

Later, when you create a file such as:

study.py

Python will be able to run the instructions inside that file.

VS Code

VS Code is a code editor.

It gives you a place to:

  • Write code
  • Edit files
  • Organize projects
  • Open a terminal
  • See programming errors more clearly

VS Code does not replace Python.

Think of it this way:

VS Code → Where you write
Python  → What runs your Python code
Terminal → How you give commands to your computer

Each tool has a different job.

3. What Is the Terminal?

Most people interact with a computer by clicking:

  • Folders
  • Icons
  • Menus
  • Buttons

The terminal gives you another way to interact with your computer.

Instead of clicking a folder, you can type a command.

Instead of clicking a program, you can tell the computer directly what to run.

For example:

python3 study.py

That command can tell Python to run a file named:

study.py

You do not need to memorize that yet.

The important idea is:

The terminal lets you control your computer using written commands.

As a programmer, you will use the terminal constantly.

It may look unfamiliar at first.

That is normal.

By the end of this course, it should feel like one of your normal programming tools.

4. Install Python

You need Python 3.

Do not intentionally install Python 2.

Python 2 is an older version of the language and is not what this course teaches.

Windows

Go to the official Python website:

python.org

Download the current stable Python 3 release.

During installation, look for an option similar to:

Add Python to PATH

Enable it if the installer presents that option.

Then complete the installation.

macOS

First check whether Python 3 is already available.

Open Terminal and enter:

python3 --version

If Python 3 is installed, you should see something similar to:

Python 3.x.x

The exact numbers may be different.

If Python 3 is not installed, download the current stable Python 3 release from:

python.org

Linux

Many Linux distributions already include Python 3.

Open your terminal and enter:

python3 --version

If Python is installed, you should see something similar to:

Python 3.x.x

If the command is unavailable, install Python 3 using your distribution’s package manager or the installation instructions provided by your distribution.

5. Verify Python

Installing software is not enough.

We need evidence that it actually works.

Windows

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal.

Try:

python --version

If necessary, Windows may also support:

py --version

You should see a Python 3 version.

macOS and Linux

Open the terminal and enter:

python3 --version

You should see something similar to:

Python 3.x.x

The exact version number is not important for this lesson.

What matters is that Python 3 responds successfully.

⚖️ Put the Installation on the Scale

Do not assume Python installed correctly because the installer finished.

Verify it.

Your evidence is simple:

Python 3.x.x

If the terminal can report your Python version, Python is available.

That is our first example of an important programming habit:

Do not assume. Verify.

6. Install VS Code

Go to the official Visual Studio Code website:

code.visualstudio.com

Download the version for your operating system.

Install it normally.

Then open VS Code.

You should see the VS Code welcome screen.

7. Install the Python Extension

VS Code can edit ordinary text without any additional tools.

But we want it to understand that we are working with Python.

Open the Extensions section in VS Code.

Search for:

Python

Install the official Python extension published by Microsoft.

This extension helps VS Code with features such as:

  • Python syntax highlighting
  • Code assistance
  • Running Python
  • Detecting Python environments
  • Debugging support

You do not need to understand all of those features yet.

We are simply preparing the editor for the lessons ahead.

8. Open the Terminal

You can use your operating system’s terminal directly.

VS Code also includes a terminal inside the editor.

In VS Code, open:

Terminal → New Terminal

A terminal panel should appear near the bottom of the window.

The exact appearance may differ depending on your operating system.

You may see something like:

C:\Users\student>

or:

student@computer:~$

or another prompt.

The prompt tells you that the terminal is waiting for a command.

9. Your Current Location

Your computer organizes files inside directories, also commonly called folders.

The terminal is always operating from a particular location.

We call this the current working directory.

To see where you are:

macOS / Linux

pwd

pwd means:

print working directory

You might see something similar to:

/home/student

Windows PowerShell

You can also use:

pwd

PowerShell will display your current location.

10. See What Is Inside a Directory

Now ask the terminal what exists in your current location.

Use:

ls

On Linux and macOS, ls lists files and directories.

PowerShell also recognizes ls.

You might see something similar to:

Desktop
Documents
Downloads
Pictures

The exact result depends on your computer.

Think of ls as asking:

What is here?

11. Moving Between Directories

The command:

cd

means:

change directory

Suppose your current location contains a directory named:

Documents

You could enter:

cd Documents

Now your terminal is operating inside that directory.

Check your location:

pwd

Then inspect its contents:

ls

You are beginning to navigate your computer without clicking folders.

12. Moving Back

To move to the parent directory, use:

cd ..

The two dots mean:

Go up one directory.

For example:

home
└── student
    └── Documents

If you are inside:

Documents

then:

cd ..

moves you back to:

student

This command will become extremely useful.

13. Creating a Directory

Eventually, you will need somewhere to store your Python work.

A directory can be created with:

mkdir python-foundations

mkdir means:

make directory

Now check:

ls

You should see:

python-foundations

Enter it:

cd python-foundations

Then verify your location:

pwd

You have now created and entered a directory using only terminal commands.

14. A Recommended Course Directory

Create one main directory for your Berean Scale Python work.

For example:

berean-scale-python

Using the terminal:

mkdir berean-scale-python

Then enter it:

cd berean-scale-python

Later, your work may look something like:

berean-scale-python/
├── module-0/
├── module-1/
├── module-2/
└── projects/

Do not create all of those directories yet.

We will create them when we actually need them.

Remember:

Need → Concept → Practice → Application

15. Trace the Terminal

Suppose you begin inside:

/home/student

Then you enter:

mkdir berean-scale-python
cd berean-scale-python
pwd

Think through each command.

First command

mkdir berean-scale-python

A new directory is created.

Second command

cd berean-scale-python

The terminal moves into that directory.

Third command

pwd

The terminal displays the current working directory.

On this example system, that would be something like:

/home/student/berean-scale-python

This is another form of tracing.

You are predicting what each command changes before moving to the next command.

16. Predict It

Do not type these commands yet.

Predict first.

Predict It #1

Suppose your current directory contains:

Documents
Downloads
Pictures

What should this command show?

ls

Predict It #2

Suppose you are currently inside:

/home/student/Documents

What happens when you enter:

cd ..

Where should you be afterward?

17. Practice

Build It — Create Your Course Directory

Create a directory named:

berean-scale-python

Then enter that directory.

Finally, display your current working directory.

Your work is complete when:

  • The directory exists
  • You can see it with ls
  • You can enter it with cd
  • pwd shows that you are inside it

Explain It

In your own words, explain the difference between:

pwd

and:

ls

Then explain what:

cd

does.

Do not worry about giving dictionary definitions.

Explain what each command does to someone who has never used a terminal.

Fix It

A student wants to enter this directory:

berean-scale-python

But they type:

cd berean-python

The terminal reports that the directory does not exist.

What should the student check first?

Think about what the computer was actually told to do.

18. The Narrow Path — Common Mistakes

Typing the wrong directory name

The terminal is literal.

If the directory is named:

berean-scale-python

then this is different:

berean-python

Check spelling carefully.

Forgetting where you are

Beginners often type commands without knowing their current directory.

Use:

pwd

Ask:

Where am I?

Then use:

ls

Ask:

What is here?

Those two questions solve many beginner terminal problems.

Confusing Python with VS Code

VS Code is where you write code.

Python runs Python code.

Installing VS Code does not automatically mean Python is installed correctly.

That is why we verified Python separately.

Copying commands without understanding them

Do not turn the terminal into a place where you paste mysterious commands from the internet.

Before running a command in this course, you should have a basic understanding of what it is supposed to do.

19. Check Your Understanding

Answer these in your own words:

  1. What job does Python perform?
  2. What job does VS Code perform?
  3. What is the terminal?
  4. What is a current working directory?
  5. What does pwd show?
  6. What does ls show?
  7. What does cd do?
  8. What does cd .. do?
  9. What does mkdir do?
  10. Why did we verify the Python installation instead of simply assuming it worked?

Command Reference

You do not need to memorize every command immediately.

Use this as a reference:

CommandPurpose
pwdShow your current directory
lsList what is inside the current directory
cd nameEnter a directory
cd ..Move up one directory
mkdir nameCreate a directory
python3 --versionCheck Python 3 on macOS/Linux
python --versionCheck Python on many Windows installations
py --versionCheck Python through the Windows launcher

Graduation Standard

Do not move forward until Python 3 and VS Code are installed, you can verify Python from the terminal, and you can use pwd, ls, cd, cd .., and mkdir without blindly copying the commands.

Your development environment is now ready.

In the next lesson, you will create and run your first Python program yourself.

Put It on the Scale. ⚖️🐍📖

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