IDP Course Base Environment & Assignment Starter

Welcome! This repository contains the standardized Python development environment for our class assignments. It is configured to run seamlessly both in GitHub Codespaces (cloud browser setup) and locally on Windows / Mac / Linux via VS Code without requiring Docker. This does not require Anaconda to be configured. You should select the ".venv" python environment when running.

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Quick Start: Getting to Your Assignment

This assignment's tasks are located in processing.ipynb.

Follow the instructions below for your chosen setup option to configure your environment, then open processing.ipynb to begin your work.

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Environment Setup Options

Choose one of the two methods below to open and run your workspace.

Option 1: Local VS Code Desktop (Windows / Mac / Linux)

Lab Computers:

1. Clone & Open: Clone this repository to your machine and open the project folder in VS Code.
2. Build Environment (1-Click Setup):
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows (or Cmd + Shift + B on Mac).
   • Alternatively, go to the top menu: Terminal > Run Build Task... > select 1-Click Setup Python Environment.
   • This task creates a local virtual environment (.venv), upgrades pip, and installs all required base dependencies. It is safe to run multiple times.
3. Open Assignment: Open processing.ipynb.
4. Select Kernel: In the top-right corner of the notebook, ensure the kernel is set to Python (.venv) (or select Select Kernel > Python Environments > .venv).

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Option 2: GitHub Codespaces

1. Click the green Code button at the top right of this repository.
2. Select the Codespaces tab and click Create codespace on main.
3. Wait for the environment to build (1–2 minutes).
4. You do not need to run the build task, so skip this step
5. Open processing.ipynb. The Python kernel will connect automatically—press Run All to test!

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Verifying Your Environment

Before starting your assignment, you can verify that your environment, Python version, and standard libraries are correctly connected.

1. Open test_environment.ipynb.
2. Run the test cell. You should select the ".venv" python environment when running!
3. You should see output similar to this:

Python Version: 3.13.x
Executable Path: ...\.venv\Scripts\python.exe
Pathlib Working Directory: ...\idp-assign-1-processing
ipykernel Version: 7.x.x

Environment setup verified successfully!