Beginner programmer using VSCode and Git on laptop to set up a Python project, learning in a cozy, focused workspace.

🛠️ How I Set Up Git and VSCode for Python (And What I Did Wrong!)

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When I started learning Python, I thought installing stuff like Git and VSCode would be easy.
Just download and done, right?
Wrong. 😅

I messed up my setup.
But that’s okay — now I know how to fix it, and I want to show you the easy way.

This post is like a map:
👉 If you’re learning to code and want to use VSCode (a code editor) and Git (a tool that saves your code versions), this guide will save you hours of headache.

🚨 My First Mistakes (And What You Can Learn)

❌ Mistake 1: I installed Git but didn’t set my name and email.

Git was saving my code, but didn’t know who I was!
It was like turning in homework without a name.

Fix:

git config --global user.name "Shrikant"
git config --global user.email "me@example.com"

❌ Mistake 2: I copied GitHub links without understanding HTTPS vs SSH

Every time I pushed code to GitHub, it asked for my password. 😩

What I learned:
Use SSH to log in without typing passwords every time.

Steps:

  1. Create an SSH key with:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
  1. Add the key to your GitHub account.

Now Git remembers you.

❌ Mistake 3: I installed VSCode but didn’t add any extensions

VSCode is like a blank notebook. You have to add tools to make it work well with Python.

My Best Extensions:

  • Python (by Microsoft) → helps VSCode understand Python code
  • GitLens → shows changes in your code
  • Pylance → gives smart code suggestions
  • Code Runner → lets you run code quickly

✅ How I Set It Up the Right Way

Now my setup is clean, fast, and beginner-friendly.

🧪 Python Virtual Environment

I learned that it’s smart to keep each project in its own box. That box is called a virtual environment.

Here’s how I do it

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # Linux/Mac

This way, if one project uses Python 3.10 and another uses 3.12, they don’t crash into each other.

💡 Cool Tips That Made a Big Difference

  • I turned on Auto Save in VSCode. No more losing work.
  • I created a .gitignore file to tell Git: “Don’t track my secret or trash files.”
  • I made short aliases in terminal so I could type less. Example:
alias gs='git status'

🎯 What This Setup Helps Me Do Now

  • Save versions of my code like saving checkpoints in a game
  • Code faster with smart suggestions
  • Fix errors quickly because VSCode shows them right away
  • Keep my Python projects clean with virtual environments

🧠 Final Thoughts (In Simple Words)

If you’re new to coding, don’t rush the setup.
Take 1 day to do it properly — and it will save you 100 days of frustration later.

I made these mistakes so you don’t have to.
Now it feels like I have a real programming workstation — even though it’s just my laptop.

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