IDE Setup

Before we dive into algorithms, you need to set up your environment. We have two primary recommendations—choose the one that fits your workflow best.

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1. Choose Your IDE

Option A: PyCharm (Pro-Grade)

https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/

Option B: VSCode (Highly Recommended)

https://code.visualstudio.com/

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Comparison

PyCharm (Student Edition)	Visual Studio Code
Purpose-built for Python	Lightweight and fast
Industry-leading debugger	The “Swiss Army Knife” of editors
Free with your university email	Preferred for this module

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2. Install Python & VSCode

Windows

Installation

1. VSCode: Open the Microsoft Store, search for "Visual Studio Code," and click Install.

2. Python: Search the Store for "Python 3.12" (or latest) and click Install.

Terminal Fix

If you get an execution policy error in the terminal, run this in PowerShell as Admin:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Linux

macOS

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3. Configuration & Extensions

Open VSCode and press Ctrl+Shift+X to open the Extensions marketplace. Install these:

• Python (by Microsoft) — Required

• Python Debugger (by Microsoft) — Required

• Jupyter (by Microsoft) — Highly Recommended for the Onramp

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Here you go — the full response rewritten purely in Markdown, clean and ready to paste into GitBook.

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4. Verification: Hello World

To ensure everything is working, create a file named hello.py and paste the following:

print("Hello world!\n")
print("Name: YOUR_NAME_HERE")
print("Student Number: YOUR_STUDENT_NUMBER_HERE")

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How to Create a New File (Beginner‑Friendly)

Here are the simplest and more detailed methods.

Fastest Method (Works in Most Editors)

Keyboard shortcut:

• Ctrl + N → create a new file

• Ctrl + S → save it as hello.py

This is the quickest, universal method.

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Creating a New File in VS Code

Method 1: Using the Explorer Panel

1. Open VS Code

2. Click the Explorer icon on the left

3. Click New File

4. Type hello.py

5. Paste the code and save

Method 2: Using the Menu

1. File → New Text File

2. Paste the code

3. File → Save As…

4. Name it hello.py

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Creating a New File in PyCharm

Method 1: Right‑Click Method

1. In the Project panel, right‑click the folder where you want the file

2. Select New → Python File

3. Enter hello (PyCharm adds .py automatically)

4. Paste the code

Method 2: Menu Method

1. File → New… → Python File

2. Name it hello

3. Paste the code

To Run: Click the Play Button in the top-right corner. If prompted, select the "Recommended" Python Interpreter.

Submission Requirements

What to submit: A screenshot or text copy of your terminal output showing:

1. The "Hello world!" message

2. Your name

3. Your student number

4. Show your full IDE setup

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5. Our Philosophy on AI Tools

Understanding > Syntax Tools like GitHub Copilot are incredible boosters. For this module, feel free to use AI for boilerplate code. What matters is that you understand the logic, the efficiency ( notation), and the "Why."

If the AI writes the algorithm for you and you can't explain how it works, you haven't learned the material. Use it as a tutor, not a ghostwriter.

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Troubleshooting

Problem: "Run Python File" button doesn't appear

• Solution: Make sure you saved the file with .py extension and installed the Python extension

Problem: "Python is not recognized" or "No Python interpreter found"

• Solution: Reinstall Python and make sure to check "Add Python to PATH" during installation (Windows), or verify installation with python3 --version in terminal (Linux)

Problem: Terminal shows an error about execution policy (Windows)

• Solution: Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

  Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Problem: Wrong Python version selected

• Solution: Click on the Python version in the bottom-right corner of VSCode and select a different interpreter from the list

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Environment Ready? Complete the Python Onramp →