1  Software Setup

Before the first class, please install the tools below and make sure they work on your laptop.

1.1 What You Need

  1. A GitHub account
  2. Anaconda
  3. Visual Studio Code
  4. These VS Code extensions:
    • Python
    • Jupyter
    • GitHub Copilot
    • Data Wrangler
    • Rainbow CSV

1.3 Why Install VS Code Separately?

Some Anaconda installations include VS Code, but for this course I recommend installing VS Code directly from the official VS Code website anyway.

This gives everyone the same application, makes extension installation more predictable, and avoids confusion if the Anaconda-bundled version is outdated or missing features.

1.4 Anaconda

Install Anaconda first. It includes Python and the scientific packages we will use in the course.

During installation:

  • Accept the default installation unless you have a specific reason not to.
  • If the installer asks whether to add Anaconda to your PATH, you can leave that unchecked.

VS Code can usually detect Anaconda environments without adding Anaconda to PATH, so PATH is not required for this course setup.

1.5 VS Code

Install VS Code from the official website:

https://code.visualstudio.com/

After installation:

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Sign in with your GitHub account.
  3. Install the required extensions.

1.6 Required VS Code Extensions

Open the Extensions view in VS Code and install:

  • Python
  • Jupyter
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Data Wrangler
  • Rainbow CSV

How to open the Extensions view:

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Click the Extensions icon in the left sidebar.
  3. Search for each extension by name.
  4. Click Install.

1.7 Python Extension

Install the Python extension in VS Code.

It helps VS Code find Python interpreters and Conda environments, and it enables Python: Select Interpreter, which you may need if VS Code does not detect Anaconda automatically.

1.8 Jupyter

Anaconda already includes Jupyter-related Python packages, but in VS Code you should also install the Jupyter extension so notebooks open and run correctly inside the editor.

1.9 Selecting the Correct Python Interpreter in VS Code

In many cases VS Code will detect the Anaconda Python interpreter automatically. If it does not, select it manually:

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Press Cmd+Shift+P on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows.
  3. Search for Python: Select Interpreter.
  4. Choose the Anaconda interpreter or Conda environment from the list.

If you are working inside a notebook and VS Code asks you to choose a kernel, select the kernel that belongs to the same Anaconda or Conda environment.

If you do not see it in the list:

  1. Open the Command Palette again.
  2. Run Python: Select Interpreter.
  3. Choose Enter interpreter path.
  4. Browse to your Anaconda Python executable.

Typical locations are similar to:

  • Windows: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\anaconda3\python.exe
  • macOS: /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/anaconda3/bin/python

1.10 First Check

After everything is installed:

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Create a new folder on your computer for the course, for example data-science-course.
  3. In VS Code, open that folder with File -> Open Folder.
  4. Create a new file named test.ipynb.
  5. If VS Code asks how to open the file, choose the notebook option.
  6. Select the Anaconda Python interpreter.
  7. If prompted, choose the matching Jupyter kernel.
  8. Run a cell with:
import sys
print(sys.executable)

If the notebook runs successfully, your setup is ready.