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Setup Guide: From Zero to Running

This guide assumes you have never used a terminal, Git, or Python before. Follow every step and you'll be running code in 15 minutes.

Don't want to install anything?

You can read all chapters and run Python code right now in your browser:

The instructions below are for people who want to work locally on their computer, which gives you the full experience with Jupyter notebooks.

Step 0: What You Need

  • A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
  • An internet connection
  • 15 minutes

That's it. Everything else we'll install together.

Step 1: Install Python

Python is the programming language used in every chapter.

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Go to python.org/downloads
  3. Click the big yellow "Download Python 3.x.x" button
  4. Run the downloaded file
  5. IMPORTANT: Check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" at the bottom of the installer. This is the most common mistake beginners make.
  6. Click "Install Now"
  7. Wait for it to finish, then click "Close"

Don't forget: Add Python to PATH

If you skip this checkbox, nothing else in this guide will work. If you already installed without it, uninstall Python and reinstall with the box checked.

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Go to python.org/downloads
  3. Click "Download Python 3.x.x"
  4. Open the downloaded .pkg file
  5. Follow the installer (click Continue, Agree, Install)
  6. Done

Python is usually pre-installed. Open a terminal and type:

python3 --version

If you see a version number (3.10 or higher), you're good. If not:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv

Verify Python is installed

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard
  2. Type PowerShell
  3. Click "Windows PowerShell" (the blue icon)
  4. In the window that opens, type this and press Enter:
python --version

You should see something like Python 3.12.3. If you see an error, Python wasn't added to PATH -- reinstall it.

  1. Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight
  2. Type Terminal and press Enter
  3. In the window that opens, type:
python3 --version

You should see something like Python 3.12.3.

Open a terminal and type:

python3 --version

Step 2: Install Git

Git lets you download the chapters to your computer.

  1. Go to git-scm.com/download/win
  2. The download should start automatically
  3. Run the installer
  4. Click Next on every screen (the defaults are fine)
  5. Click Install, then Finish

Open Terminal and type:

git --version

If Git isn't installed, your Mac will ask if you want to install developer tools. Click Install and wait.

sudo apt install git

Verify Git is installed

Close your terminal/PowerShell and open a new one, then type:

git --version

You should see something like git version 2.43.0.

Step 3: Download the Chapters

Now we'll download all the Berta Chapters to your computer.

  1. Open PowerShell (press Windows key, type PowerShell, click it)
  2. Type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
cd Desktop
git clone https://github.com/luigipascal/berta-chapters.git
cd berta-chapters

This creates a folder called berta-chapters on your Desktop.

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type these commands one at a time:
cd Desktop
git clone https://github.com/luigipascal/berta-chapters.git
cd berta-chapters

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/luigipascal/berta-chapters.git
cd berta-chapters

What just happened?

cd Desktop moved you to your Desktop folder. git clone ... downloaded all the chapters from GitHub to your computer. cd berta-chapters moved you into the downloaded folder.

Step 4: Install Dependencies

The chapters need some Python libraries to work. Install them all at once:

pip install -r requirements.txt

pip3 install -r requirements.txt

This takes 1-2 minutes. You'll see a lot of text scrolling by -- that's normal.

If you get a permission error

Try adding --user at the end:

pip install -r requirements.txt --user

Step 5: Open the Chapters

You have two options: Jupyter Notebook (classic) or VS Code (modern editor).

Jupyter Notebook opens in your web browser and lets you run code one cell at a time.

cd chapters\chapter-01-python-fundamentals
jupyter notebook

cd chapters/chapter-01-python-fundamentals
jupyter notebook

Your web browser will open automatically. You'll see a list of files. Click on the notebooks folder, then click 01_introduction.ipynb.

How to use Jupyter Notebook

  • Click on a cell (the gray boxes with code) to select it
  • Press Shift + Enter to run the selected cell
  • The output appears below the cell
  • Work through cells from top to bottom
  • You can edit the code and re-run cells to experiment

To stop Jupyter, go back to your terminal and press Ctrl + C.

VS Code is a free code editor with built-in Jupyter support.

  1. Download VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
  2. Install it (run the downloaded file, click Next until done)
  3. Open VS Code
  4. Click File > Open Folder
  5. Navigate to Desktop > berta-chapters and click Select Folder
  6. VS Code will ask to install recommended extensions -- click Yes
  7. In the left sidebar, navigate to chapters/chapter-01-python-fundamentals/notebooks/
  8. Click on 01_introduction.ipynb
  9. VS Code will ask to install the Jupyter extension -- click Install
  10. Click the Run All button at the top, or click the play button next to each cell

Step 6: Start Learning

You're set up! Here's what to do now:

  1. Work through Chapter 1 -- start with 01_introduction.ipynb
  2. Run every code cell -- don't just read, experiment!
  3. Try the exercises -- in the exercises/ folder
  4. When you finish Chapter 1, move to Chapter 2:
cd ..\chapter-02-data-structures
jupyter notebook

cd ../chapter-02-data-structures
jupyter notebook

Getting Updates

When new chapters are released, get them by running this in the berta-chapters folder:

git pull

This downloads any new or updated chapters.

Troubleshooting

"python is not recognized" (Windows)

Python wasn't added to PATH. Uninstall Python, then reinstall and check the "Add Python to PATH" box.

"pip is not recognized" (Windows)

Same fix as above. Reinstall Python with the PATH checkbox.

"jupyter is not recognized"

Jupyter didn't install correctly. Try:

pip install jupyter notebook

"Permission denied"

Add --user to pip commands:

pip install -r requirements.txt --user

Jupyter opens but shows an error in the notebook

Make sure you installed the dependencies (Step 4). Go back to the berta-chapters folder and run pip install -r requirements.txt again.

The terminal shows weird characters or colors

That's normal -- some tools use colors in the terminal. Everything is working fine.

Nothing works and I'm stuck

No worries! You can still learn without any local setup:

Quick Reference Card

Task Windows (PowerShell) Mac / Linux (Terminal)
Open terminal Windows key > type "PowerShell" Cmd+Space > type "Terminal"
Go to Desktop cd Desktop cd Desktop
Download chapters git clone https://github.com/luigipascal/berta-chapters.git same
Enter folder cd berta-chapters same
Install libraries pip install -r requirements.txt pip3 install -r requirements.txt
Open Chapter 1 cd chapters\chapter-01-python-fundamentals cd chapters/chapter-01-python-fundamentals
Start Jupyter jupyter notebook same
Stop Jupyter Ctrl + C in terminal same
Get updates git pull same

Created by Luigi Pascal Rondanini | Generated by Berta AI