P1: Download + Intro to Python & VS Code

Nicky Wakim

2026-04-09

How did I make these slides?

• I used Gemini! Here is my exchange with Gemini

What is Python?

• A general-purpose programming language
• The “gold standard” for machine learning and data science
• Extensive libraries for biostatistics (pandas, statsmodels)
• Highly readable syntax

What is an IDE?

Python is the Engine

• It does the calculations.
• You could run it in a terminal, but it’s not pretty.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is the Dashboard

• R Studio is an IDE for R
• It provides a script editor, file explorer, and data viewer all in one place
• I did some looking around, and we have a choice of IDEs:
  • VS Code
  • Positron
  • Spyder
  • Google Colab

• We rarely open Python itself
• We are usually working in specific Python files: .py (like .R) or .ipynb (Jupyter Notebooks, like .qmd)

So let’s take some time to download each!

• Step 1: Install Python
  • Link: https://www.python.org/downloads/
  • CRITICAL: On Windows, check the box that says “Add Python to PATH” during installation.
• Step 2: Install selected IDE
  • VS code
  • Positron