Setting up a proper development environment is the first step towards building robust Python and Django applications. This guide will walk you through the essentials of preparing your Windows machine with Python, Git, Pipenv, and VS Code for efficient development.
1. Install Python on Windows
Download and install Python from the official website:
https://www.python.org/downloads/
Important: During installation, make sure to check the box that says “Add Python to PATH”. This step ensures that Python and pip (Python’s package installer) can be run from the command line easily.
After installation, verify Python is installed correctly by opening your command prompt and running:
py --version
You should see output similar to:
Python 3.12.4
2. Install Git on Windows
Git is a version control system that helps manage your code changes and collaborate with others. Download and install Git from:
https://git-scm.com/downloads
After installation, confirm Git is installed by running in the command prompt:
git --version
You should see something like:
git version 2.43.0.windows.1
3. Install Pipenv
Pipenv is a powerful tool that simplifies managing Python packages and virtual environments. It helps keep your project dependencies organized and isolated from your global Python environment.
To install Pipenv, run the following command:
pip install pipenv
4. Install Visual Studio Code and Python Extensions
Download and install VS Code from:
https://code.visualstudio.com/
To enhance your Python development experience, install these essential VS Code extensions:
- Python (by Microsoft)
Provides IntelliSense (auto-completion), debugging, linting, code formatting, and environment management. - Pylance
Offers fast and feature-rich language support for Python, including type checking and rich IntelliSense. - Python Docstring Generator (optional)
Helps create docstrings quickly, improving code documentation.
Next Steps
Once Python, Git, Pipenv, and VS Code with Python extensions are set up, you can move on to:
- Creating a Pipenv virtual environment for your Django project
- Using VS Code's built-in terminal and debugger for development
- Exploring additional extensions for Django or web development as needed
Setting up your development environment correctly from the start makes coding smoother and avoids common pitfalls later. Follow these steps, and you’ll be ready to start building your Django projects efficiently with VS Code!
