Mac Instructions

If you are using any of the Apple laptops, these are the instructions you want.

• Open the terminal: do this by simply searching for it in the Finder tool




• Install Python: A lot of times python is already installed on your machine, so lets check first

python --version

The output should look something like this

If it does then you're all set as long as the major (the first number) version number is 3 and the minor (the second number) version number is 12 or greater.

If it doesn't look like that, then install python by going to the official Python website. The site should automatically detect that you're on a Mac and offer you the latest version of Python 3, click Download and find the downloaded .pkg file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click to open it.

Follow the prompts in the Python installer:
1. Click Continue through the introduction and license agreement.
2. Select Install for all users if prompted.
3. Click Install to begin the installation.

Now when you run the terminal command again you should see the new version printed out in the terminal (you may have to open a new terminal).




• Install pip3: pip3 is how we download other python dependencies (more shared common code), again lets first see if you already have it, if you had to download python from the website above, then you already have it!

pip3 --version



If you did not have to download it and the output does not look like the above, then install it by running the below, replace the 3.13 with whichever version you downloaded

python3.13 -m ensurepip --upgrade

It should look like the below:


If you get an error that looks something like this:



If you get any other kind of error then don't worry, we can get setup together at the beginning of our first lesson!

PC Python Instructions

For any laptop that is not a mac

• Open the command prompt: do this by simply searching for it in the task bar




• Install Python: A lot of times python is already installed on your machine, so lets check first

python --version

The output should look something like this



If it does then you're all set as long as the major (the first number) version number is 3 and the minor (the second number) version number is 12 or greater.

If it doesn't look like that, lets first find out what type of processor you have.

1. Open Settings (WIn+I) or by searching in the task bar.

2. Click on System on the left side, and click on About on the right side.



3. Under Device specifications, look to see if your Operating system is 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor (64-bit) or 64-bit operating system, ARM-based processor (ARM64).



4. Find the python installation for your system type by going to the official Python website. According to the system type above, this computer wants this one Download Windows Installer (64-bit), if your computer requires shows click to download and find the downloaded .exe file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click to open it.

   • Most PCs (with Intel or AMD processors): Choose the 64-bit installer if your system type says 64-bit; otherwise, go with 32-bit.
   • ARM-based PCs (like some Surface models): Choose the ARM64 installer

Follow the prompts in the Python installer:



1. When the installer launches, make sure the bottom two check boxes are both clicked.

2. Select Allow if a window pops up asking for permissions for the installer to make changes on your com.

3. At the end of the installer you should see this screen.



Now when you open a new command prompt and run the python --version command again you should see the new version printed out in the terminal.

• Install virtualenv: Each project you work on might need different types of pieces or dependencies, and if they get mixed up, things can get confusing or sometimes not work if the pieces don't fit together! In programming, a virtual environment is like its own special box so the pieces/dependencies don’t mix between projects.

pip3 install virtualenv

To see if that worked you should be able to run the next commands

mkdir my_first_project
python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate               

The output should look like the below, you should see a (.venv) in front of all commands now, this means you're inside the project's dependency "box".


1. The first command just made our project's directory, this is where our project will live on your computer.
2. The second command creates the virtual environment, our "box" of dependencies for this project.
3. The third command "opens" or "activates" the box, this just means we're turning it on and anything we do now will have a (.venv) in the line meaning we're inside the box and any other dependencies we install will be in this box/environment.
4. To leave the environment/exit the box you can run the "deactive" command in the terminal and you should see the (.venv) removed from the beginning of the line.



• Install Django: while still inside your virtual environment the django dependency takes care of much of the hassle of web development, so we can focus on writing our app. It’s free and open source!

python -m pip install Django==5.1.2



Now you should be all set for our first lesson!




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