🧑🏾‍💻 prep

There is just so much to do!

🔖
  1. Install a unix based os
  2. Check Git
  3. Install VS Code
  4. Create MCB Folder

🧰 Install a UNIX based operating system

Learning Objectives

If you get stuck on any of the below or above instructions, please post in your class channel on Slack.

You probably already have this if you have done previous modules.

⚠️ warning

Code Your Future does not support Windows.

We have found that we don’t reliably have volunteers at class who can debug Windows problems, and they frequently come up, stopping trainees from making progress.

We do not support Windows so as to not waste lots of trainee and volunteer time. We have made this decision even though Windows is a popular operating system and has features like WSL which help to get experience with Unix.

If you have a Mac or Linux machine already, you already have a UNIX based operating system. All CYF-supplied laptops run Mac OS or Linux. If you have your own machine and it runs Windows, you should already have set up a Linux partition.

If you have still not done this, you must do it now. We cannot support learners using Windows. It takes too much time from everybody else. If you need help doing this, post in Slack, or bring your laptop to a CYF co-working space to get support. It’s normal to need help with this process.

Dual Boot on Windows

Check Git installation

Learning Objectives

Git

You will use Git continually as a developer. We will cover Git in more depth later in the course. Right now, we will just check that you have it installed.

Open up a terminal and run the command git --version to double check you have Git installed.
If it is installed successfully, you should get a version number (which may not be exactly the same as this example, but should look similar):

git version 2.40.0

Otherwise, you will need to install it or ask for support on your Slack channel.

💡 Tip

If you are working on a library computer, you do not have a terminal, but your github.dev account already has Git installed. (It’s called “Source Control”.) So you can skip this step.

Install VSCode

Learning Objectives

We use VS Code to write all of our code in the course. It is known as an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and really helps you write great code.

🔗 Download and install VSCode now

💡 Tip

If you are working on a library computer, use the online version of VSCode called Github.dev.

The interface is mostly the same, but you cannot install extensions or use the terminal. You can complete all the tasks in the onboarding module without these features.

Github.dev can be accessed by pressing dot on any GitHub repo
Press the dot while on any GitHub repo to open Github.dev.

Create a work folder

Learning Objectives

📢 Important

Make a folder called MCB in your home directory. Store all your work for the course in this folder.

You’ll need to create a MCB folder to store your projects on the course. You can do this any way you like, but here we are using the terminal.

How to create a folder using the terminal

  1. Open a terminal on your computer.

For each of the steps below, you’ll need to use the command line in your terminal.

Use this cli documentation to remember terminal commands.

  1. In your terminal, print your current working directory.

  2. List the files and folders in your current working directory.

You’ll need a place to store your work for the course.

  1. Make a new directory called MCB in your home directory.

  2. Change directory into the MCB directory.

  3. Double check you’re in the right place by printing your current working directory.

💡 Tip

If you’re working on a library computer, skip this step. You will store your work in your GitHub account.