Installation instructions for a Python environment on a Microsoft Windows-based computer

Rev 08/03/2025

NOTE: The official URL for this guide is: https://github.com/tclupper/PythonInstallGuide

This is a step-by-step guide to install software on your computer for the development of Python programs and Jupyter notebooks. I put this guide together mostly to document the process that I use. Your mileage may vary.

You will need the following 4 software titles. I recommend installing them in the following order:

1. Notepad++ (ver 8.8.3) (This is the text editor that I use)
2. Git (ver 2.50.1 (This is used for version control of text based files, i.e. source code, jupyter notebooks, static files, etc.)
3. Miniforge3 (ver 25.3.1-0) (Stripped down version of Anaconda)
4. VScode (ver 1.102.3) (This is the development IDE that I use)

NOTE: Jupyter notebooks are best edited using JupyterLab (installed via the Miniforge distribution). However, with the proper extensions installed, you can use VScode to edit Jupyter notebooks, Latex documents, CSS/HTML/Flask apps, as well as Python programs that use tkinter UI.

Just as an FYI, Here is a list of other free software that I recommend

• For Visual Basic and C# applications, I use Visual Studio Community 2022 (ver 17.14.10)

• Office suite

  • Libre Office (ver 25.2.5)

• Latex document editor

  • Texworks/MikTex (ver 0.6.8/ver 24.1)

• Reference material manager

  • Zotero (ver 7.0.22)

• Sound recorder/editor

  • Audacity (ver 3.7.4)

• Image viewing, creating and editing

  • IRfanView (ver 4.7.2)
  • Paint.net (ver 5.1.9)
  • ImageJ (ver 1.54p)
  • DigiCamControl (ver 2.1.7)

• Vector graphics viewing, creating and editing

  • Inkscape (ver 1.4.2)
  • DrawIO Desktop (ver 28.0.6)

• 2D mechanical drawing

  • LibreCAD (ver 2.2.1.2)

• 3D mechanical drawing and modeling

  • OpenSCAD (ver 2021.01)
  • FreeCAD (ver 1.0.1)

• 3D printing utilities

  • PrusaSlicer (ver 2.9.2)
  • MeshLab (ver 2023.12)

• EE specific tools

  • KiCAD (ver 9.0.3) ~Schematic capture and PCB layout
  • LTspice (ver 24.1.9) ~Circuit simulation
  • Arduino IDE (ver 2.3.6) ~IDE for Arduino control boards
  • Putty (ver 0.83) ~Communication tool
  • EZNEC Pro/2+ (ver 7.0.4) ~Wire antenna simulation. Final version.
  • Chirp-next (ver 20250801) ~HAM radio programming software
  • AADE filter design (ver 4.5) ~Lumped element filter design. Final version.
  • METAS VNA tools (ver 2.8.4)~Nice set of S-parameter display and calibration uncertainty tools if you use a vector network analyzer

• Utilities

  • Free 42 (ver 3.3.8b) ~HP42S calculator app
  • Convert (ver 4.1.0e) ~Unit conversion app
  • 7-Zip (Ver 25.01) ~File Compression