Setup¶

In this course we will build good programming habits. That means using a proper development environment and version control to manage our code. So before we write any code, we need to install a few programs and set them up to work together.

Python¶

The first step is to install Python, the programming language we will use.

If you've used beginner editors like Thonny or Mu, Python came with them. In most real-world setups we need to install Python ourselves.

Windows¶

1. Open the Microsoft Store, search for Python and install the latest version.
   • Why: the Store version updates itself and adds Python to the system path, so we can use it anywhere.
   • Result: Python appears in the Start menu.

macOS¶

1. Go to python.org and click the yellow Download Python 3.x.x button.
   • Why: the site detects our system and gives us the right installer.
   • Result: an installer file downloads.
2. Open the installer and follow the steps.
   • Result: Python appears in the Applications folder.

Version control¶

Version control tracks the changes to our files over time. It lets us save versions of our work and go back to an earlier version if something breaks.

It's a bit like OneDrive, but it isn't automatic. After saving our work, we choose when to sync it to the cloud.

Git¶

Git is the industry-standard version control system. It's free and open source. Git stores our code in a special folder called a repository (or repo), which keeps track of every change we make.

We won't use Git directly. Instead, it's built into the tools we'll use, but we still need to install it.

1. Go to git-scm.com/downloads and download the installer for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
   • Why: GitHub Desktop and VS Code use Git behind the scenes.
   • Result: an installer file downloads.
2. Run the installer and accept all the default settings.
   • Result: Git is installed. Nothing new appears on screen, because we won't use Git by itself.

GitHub¶

GitHub is the website that stores our repos online and syncs them with our computer. The free account is all we need.

1. Go to github.com and click Sign up.
2. Use your school email to create your account (you can change it later).
   • Result: you can sign in to GitHub.

GitHub Desktop¶

GitHub Desktop is an app that lets us use Git and GitHub without typing commands.

1. Go to desktop.github.com, download GitHub Desktop and run the installer, accepting the default options.
   • macOS: move the app to Applications and restart when asked.
2. Open GitHub Desktop and sign in with your GitHub account.
   • Result: GitHub Desktop shows your account name and an empty list of repositories.

VS Code¶

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a program that lets us write, edit and test code in one place. It gives suggestions and shows errors as we type, organises our files, and runs our programs.

We will use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) for this course.

1. Go to code.visualstudio.com, click Download and run the installer, accepting the default options.
   • Result: VS Code opens with a Welcome tab.
2. Install the Python extension: click Install, then allow the page to open VS Code.
   • Why: VS Code works with many languages, and the extension adds Python support (running code, error checking and virtual environments).
   • Result: the Python extension shows as installed in VS Code's Extensions panel.
3. Install the Material Icon Theme the same way.
   • Why: by default VS Code doesn't show icons in the file panel, which makes it harder to tell files and folders apart.
   • Result: files and folders in VS Code have coloured icons.

GameFrame and the game files¶

We will use a repo that has a modified version of GameFrame and all the images and sounds for Space Rescue. We need to clone (copy) this repo onto our computer.

1. Go to the Space Rescue Resources repo, click the green Code button, then click the copy button beside the HTTPS URL.

   • Result: the repo's URL is on the clipboard.

   

2. In GitHub Desktop, open the File menu and click Clone repository.

   

3. Choose the URL tab, paste the URL into the URL or username/repository box, and click Clone.

   • Result: GitHub Desktop shows space-rescue-resources as the Current repository.

   

Open the repo in VS Code¶

We will use GitHub Desktop to manage our workflow: opening our code in VS Code, committing (saving) our work to the local repo, and pushing (syncing) it to GitHub.

1. In GitHub Desktop, check the Current repository is space-rescue-resources, then click Open in Visual Studio Code.

   

   • Result: VS Code opens, and the file panel shows SPACE-RESCUE-RESOURCES with the folders below.

   

Virtual environment¶

A virtual environment keeps each Python project separate. Each project gets its own space with its own Python setup and libraries, so changes in one project don't affect another. It's like giving each project its own room with its own tools.

1. In VS Code, press Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on macOS), type Python and choose Python: Create Environment...

   

2. Choose Venv.

   

3. Choose the latest version of Python you installed.

   

4. Tick requirements.txt, then click OK.

   • Why: this installs Pygame into the new environment.
   • Result: VS Code creates a .venv folder, installs Pygame and activates the environment.

   

5. Check the status bar in the bottom right of VS Code.

   • Result: it shows the Python version and the name of the virtual environment (.venv). If both are there, the environment is active.

   

First commit and push¶

Let's make a small change, then commit and push it, so our own copy of the repo is on GitHub.

1. Open README.md, replace its contents with the text below and save it.

   # SPACE RESCUE
   
   Try to save the helpless astronauts who are being left stranded in space by the evil Zork.
   

2. In GitHub Desktop, type Made first change in the Summary (required) box and click Commit to main.

   • Result: the change disappears from the Changes list.

   

3. Click Push origin.

   • Result: an error appears, because the repo belongs to someone else and we can't push to it.

   

4. Choose Fork this repository, then For my own purposes, and click Continue.

   • Why: a fork is our own copy of the repo on GitHub, so we can push to it.
5. Click Push origin again.
   • Result: our commit is now on GitHub, in our own copy of the repo.

We're ready to start coding.