Set up your computer

Run Python on your own computer

• This playground is perfect for learning — but it lives in your browser.
• For your own projects, it helps to set Python up on your computer.
• It takes about 10 minutes, and you only do it once.

Step 1 — Install Python

• Go to python.org/downloads and download the latest Python 3.
• Run the installer.
• On Windows, tick "Add Python to PATH" before you click Install — this matters.

Step 2 — Install VS Code

• VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is a free, popular code editor from Microsoft.
• Download it from code.visualstudio.com and install it.
• This is where you will write and run your code.

Step 3 — Add the Python extension

• Open VS Code and click the Extensions icon on the left.
• Search for Python (the one by Microsoft) and click Install.
• It adds run buttons, colours, and helpful hints for Python.

Step 4 — Check it worked

• Open a terminal (in VS Code: Terminal → New Terminal) and type:

python --version

• You should see something like Python 3.12.0. If you do, you are ready.

Step 5 — Run your first file

• In VS Code, make a new file called hello.py and type:

print("Hello from my own computer!")

• Press the ▶ Run button (top right), or type python hello.py in the terminal.
• You just ran Python outside the browser.