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Version: WIP

📓 1.0.0.15 Installation and Setup

Take time to ensure all necessary tools are correctly installed on your personal machine. For Intro to Programming, this includes configuring the command line, installing and setting up Git, and installing VS Code text editor and its extensions. We cover setup and installation instructions in the upcoming lessons in this pre-work section. All you need to do is click the "Next" button to work through each lesson. We'll also list these lessons below as an overview.

This is where you can find the setup and installation instructions for each piece of software:

We Use the Google Chrome Browser​

We recommend installing Google Chrome if you use another browser on your personal machine. Chrome recognizes most of the latest JavaScript features and we use Chrome throughout the program. We also use Chrome Developer Tools as well as other Chrome features throughout the program. You can download Chrome here.

Having Setup or Installation Issues?​

If you encounter any issues setting these up, ask for assistance from your instructors.

AI Support: Stuck on a setup or installation error? After trying the steps in this lesson, you can ask AI to explain the error in plain language or suggest what to check next — but don't paste your whole project and ask it to fix everything. Before asking, check: Do I have the license for this? See Using AI Responsibly at Fidgetech and How to Ask for Help.

Reading errors with AI​

When you hit an error:

  1. Copy the exact error message (not your whole terminal history)
  2. Write down what you expected vs. what happened
  3. Ask AI: "What does this error mean in plain language, and what should I check first?" — not "fix this for me"
  4. If you still can't evaluate AI's answer, ask an instructor or peer

See the Strong vs. Weak Prompts table and the license check-in.