🐍 Python Learning Environment

A complete, beginner-friendly Python learning setup for Windows with VS Code + Jupyter Notebooks.

📁 Project Structure

code/                      ← this folder (your workspace)
├── .vscode/settings.json  ← VS Code configuration (already done for you)
├── Notes/                 ← 📝 your Markdown notes (use .md files here)
├── Notebooks/             ← 📓 your Jupyter notebooks (01_welcome.ipynb to start!)
├── Practice/              ← 💪 practice coding problems (.py files)
├── Assignments/           → 📚 homework / projects
└── venv/                  ← 🔒 your Python environment (don't touch this)

✅ What's Already Installed

Component	Status	Location
Python 3.12.13	✅ Installed	venv\python.exe
Virtual environment	✅ Created	venv\
Jupyter + JupyterLab	✅ Installed	inside venv\
VS Code (1.131)	✅ Installed	system-wide
Python, Pylance, Jupyter extensions	✅ Installed	VS Code
Ruff, autoDocstring, and more	✅ Installed	VS Code

🚀 How to Use It (Daily Workflow)

1. Open this folder in VS Code

   code .
   

2. Select the Python interpreter (should be automatic, but to check):
   • Press Ctrl+Shift+P → type Python: Select Interpreter
   • Choose venv (path: C:\Users\sriva\code\venv\python.exe)
3. Open your first notebook: click Notebooks/01_welcome.ipynb
4. Run a cell: Shift+Enter
5. Run all cells: click ▶ Run All in the notebook toolbar

When you open a new terminal inside VS Code, the venv activates automatically (you'll see (venv) before the prompt).

🧰 Notebook Features You Asked For — All Enabled

• ✅ Markdown cells — write notes with formatting (+ Markdown button)
• ✅ Code cells — run Python one cell at a time
• ✅ Outline view — see all your headings & code cells in the sidebar
• ✅ Variables explorer — watch variables update as code runs (top of notebook)
• ✅ Run All / Run Above / Run Below buttons
• ✅ Restart Kernel & Stop buttons
• ✅ Interactive Window — Shift+Enter on selected code opens it

🎨 Extensions Installed (and why)

Already there (core):

• Python (ms-python.python) — run, debug, and manage Python
• Pylance (ms-python.vscode-pylance) — fast autocomplete, type hints, error squiggles
• Jupyter (ms-toolsai.jupyter) — notebooks inside VS Code
• Debugpy — the debugger
• Code Runner — run .py files with one click ▶

Just added (recommended for learning):

• Ruff (charliermarsh.ruff) — catches style mistakes & bugs, auto-formats on save
• autoDocstring (njpwerner.autodocstring) — type """ + Enter to auto-generate docstrings
• Python Indent (KevinRose.vsc-python-indent) — correct indentation automatically
• Rainbow Brackets (2gua.rainbow-brackets) — color-coded brackets, easier to read code
• Material Icon Theme (PKief.material-icon-theme) — pretty file icons

📋 Verification Commands (run these to check everything works)

Open a terminal in VS Code (Ctrl+`` ) and run:

# 1. Python version (should print 3.12.13)
python --version

# 2. Is the venv active? (should show "(venv)" before the prompt)
# If not, this env is conda-based, so activate it with:
conda activate C:\Users\sriva\code\venv
# (or in VS Code just pick it via Ctrl+Shift+P > Python: Select Interpreter)

# 3. Jupyter is installed?
python -m jupyter --version

# 4. List the Python kernels Jupyter can use (should show "python3")
jupyter kernelspec list

# 5. Quick sanity test
python -c "import numpy, pandas; print('Scientific packages OK')"

In the notebook: open Notebooks/01_welcome.ipynb and click ▶ Run All. You should see Hello, world! Your Python setup works! 🎉 printed.

🛠️ How This Was Set Up (Windows steps, for your reference)

# 1. Install Python from https://python.org (tick "Add Python to PATH")

# 2. Create the virtual environment (from C:\Users\sriva\code)
python -m venv venv
# (this project's venv was created with conda: `conda create -p venv python=3.12`)

# 3. Activate it (PowerShell)
conda activate C:\Users\sriva\code\venv

# 4. Install Jupyter + science packages
pip install jupyterlab notebook ipykernel numpy pandas matplotlib

# 5. Install VS Code extensions
code --install-extension ms-python.python
code --install-extension ms-python.vscode-pylance
code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter
code --install-extension charliermarsh.ruff

💡 Beginner Tips

• Put notes in Notes/ as .md files
• Put exercises in Practice/ as .py files
• Use notebooks (Notebooks/) for exploring & visualizing — it's the friendliest way to learn
• Save work regularly — autosave is already ON for this workspace
• Dark theme + word wrap + autosave are already configured for you ✨

Happy learning! 🚀