Set Up Python for Engineering Projects

Install Python from an official source

Download a supported Python 3 release from python.org. On Windows, enable the installer option that adds Python to your path. Avoid archived third-party download links when an official installer is available.

Confirm the installation:

python --version
python -m pip --version

On some systems the command is python3 rather than python.

Choose an editor

Visual Studio Code is a practical general-purpose choice. Install the official Python extension, then open your project folder rather than editing isolated files.

Other documented options from the legacy course page include Jupyter, PyCharm, Spyder and Thonny. Choose one tool and learn its debugger well.

Create an isolated environment

python -m venv .venv

Activate it on Windows PowerShell:

.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

Activate it on macOS or Linux:

source .venv/bin/activate

Then update packaging tools:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

Run a first program

Create hello.py:

project = "Academy4Tech"
topics = ["robotics", "IoT", "computer vision"]

for topic in topics:
    print(f"{project}: build with {topic}")

Run it with python hello.py.

Continue with the Academy4Tech playlist

The original website links to the Python 3.x video playlist. Video content may reflect older Python or tool versions, so compare installation steps with official documentation.