2. Setting up your development environment

Today's learning objectives

  • Install Python using Anaconda.
  • Set-up Jupyter Notebook.
  • Set-up and become familiar with Github.

Setting up your AI and Data Science environment - Installing Anaconda

Before you start building AI and Data Science applications, you will need to install Python on your computer. An easy way to install Python on your computer is using Anaconda [2]. Anaconda is a free python package manager that is geared towards AI and Data Science. In simple terms, installing Anaconda not only installs the latest version of Python, but also installs common python libraries that are used by Data Scientists in the industry. Please watch the below tutorial on how to install Anaconda on your computer. Alternatively, goto https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual and follow the instructions.

Jupyter notebooks

The Jupyter Notebook is an open source web application that you can use to create and share documents (or notebooks) that can contain interactive code, documentation, visualizations, and text. By default, when you install Anaconda, jupyter notebook is also installed.

Please watch the following video to learn more about Jupyter Notebooks.

To launch Jupyter Notebook, please open the Anaconda Navigator application. You will observe that Jupyter notebook is indeed installed.


To get started with jupyter notebooks, please read through the article you can find here.

Github

GitHub is a code hosting platform for version control and collaboration. It lets you and others work together on projects from anywhere [3]. Please watch the video below to become familiar with Github.

Assignment

  • Create a new jupyter notebook and save it with the name [YourName_blockA_homework]. Henceforth, please use this notebook to commit your daily programming homework.

  • [Optional] Please complete the course Introduction to Github by clicking on the link below.

https://lab.github.com/githubtraining/introduction-to-github

The assignment does not count towards your final assesment.
However note that the Github Repository and Github Pages webpage you develop as part of this assignment can be used to showcase your portfolio as you progress through your study program.

Please click next to view the rest of the material for today

References

[1] https://www.python.org/
[2] https://www.anaconda.com/
[3] https://github.com/
[4] https://www.codecademy.com/articles/getting-started-with-jupyter