GT-How

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How to Setup a Development Environment

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by

sbhardwaj73
in ,

By William Chin and Saksham Bhardwaj

Starting your journey at Georgia Tech can feel exciting—but also overwhelming, especially if you’re new to programming. This guide is designed to walk you, step by step, through setting up a beginner-friendly software environment on your laptop, perfect for GT CS course work. Whether you’ve never written a line of code or just want to get ahead of classes, this page will help you choose the right operating system, set up your tools, and get ready to start coding confidently.

Table of Contents

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Part 1: Choosing an Operating System
  3. Part 2. Setting Up WSL For Windows
    1. Step 1: Install WSL
    2. Step 2. Configure WSL
    3. Step 3. Updating WSL
  4. Part 3. Setting Up macOS For Development
    1. Step 1. Update macOS
    2. Step 2. Installing Homebrew
    3. Step 3. Installing Xcode Command Line Tools
  5. Part 4. Downloading and Configuring VSCode
    1. Step 1. Download VSCode + Language Runtimes
    2. Step 2. Add Key Extensions
    3. Step 3. Test!
    4. (Optional) Step 4. Download Alternative IDEs

Part 1: Choosing an Operating System

Before you start coding, you’ll need to pick an operating system (OS). If you haven’t bought a laptop yet, this section will help you decide. Most laptops come with Windows, while MacBooks run macOS. Both work perfectly fine for Georgia Tech coursework.

Comparison graphic showing Windows with WSL versus macOS with Apple Silicon or Intel-based systems under the title ‘Choosing the Best Operating System for Your Needs.’ The Windows logo is outlined in blue on the left, and the Apple logo is outlined in green on the right, separated by a ‘VS’ icon.
Choosing between Windows with WSL and macOS for development and productivity.


If you noticed from the image above, we recommend using Windows with WSL. WSL, or Windows Subsystem for Linux, is a Windows feature that allows students to run a Linux environment directly on a Windows machine. The reason why we state Windows with WSL, is because WSL is an extremely nice way for developers to have a clean, and efficient coding environment on Windows. Generally speaking, Windows as an operating system runs quite inefficiently, and has a lot less support for developer tools compared Linux, and WSL in our guide, is highly recommended for all Windows GT CS students. Additionally, many GT CS courses and CS clubs (such as most Systems & Architecture thread courses) will require students to use WSL on their Windows system. MacBooks already have a Unix-based system built in, so you can start coding right away without needing additional support like WSL. Ultimately, your choice comes down to budget and personal preference—either OS will handle your classes just fine, and this guide will show you how to set up both.

Comparison chart showing pros and cons of using Windows with WSL2. Pros listed on the left include affordable laptops, Linux support and Unix CLI, access to more consumer applications, and full file system interaction between WSL and Windows. Cons on the right include complex setup and no pre-downloaded tools. The chart is styled with green icons for pros and red icons for cons.
Pros and cons of using Windows with WSL2 for developers and power users.
Comparison chart showing pros and cons of macOS. Pros listed on the left include Unix-based system, built-in programming tools, excellent battery life, and premium build quality. Cons on the right include high cost and inability to run Windows or GPU-optimized applications such as Nvidia CUDA, certain video games, and CAD tools. The layout uses green icons for pros and red icons for cons, with the Apple logo at the top.
Advantages and drawbacks of using macOS for coding, design, and performance.

Have you picked your OS? Jump to (Windows ) or (macOS)

Part 2. Setting Up WSL For Windows

(If you are using macOS, skip to part 3.)


Windows without Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is often very hard to navigate due to Window’s various obstructions. Additionally, many software suites do not support Windows, and only support Linux and macOS. Even though only some courses at GT will require Windows users to install and use WSL for some projects, we recommend to use WSL for all software related projects when using a Windows device.

Step 1: Install WSL

Open up Windows Power Shell as an Administrator and type:

wsl --install


Press enter, and when the download is finished, restart your computer. Additionally, if you would like a specific Linux distribution for your WSL, you can specify this with -d "Distribution Name". By default wsl --install will install the latest version of Ubuntu which is perfectly fine for classes.

Screenshot of a Windows PowerShell terminal showing the command wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04 being executed. The output displays installation progress for Virtual Machine Platform, Windows Subsystem for Linux, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The message confirms successful installation and notes that changes will take effect after the system is rebooted.
Installing Ubuntu 24.04 LTS on Windows using the WSL command in PowerShell.

Step 2. Configure WSL

When you computer finishes rebooting, log in to your windows user and a terminal window should pop-up. If a terminal window doesn’t pop-up, open PowerShell. Within the terminal it will request for a username and password. This doesn’t have to be the same as your window’s login, this login is specifically for your WSL system.

Screenshot of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS terminal window on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The terminal shows Ubuntu launching and prompts the user to create a default UNIX account with the message: ‘Please create a default UNIX user account. The username does not need to match your Windows username.’ A link to https://aka.ms/wslusers is displayed, followed by the prompt ‘Enter new UNIX username:’.
Setting up a default UNIX username after installing Ubuntu on WSL.

Step 3. Updating WSL

Now that you have your user configration setup for WSL, go into your Windows Search Bar and type in “Ubuntu” (the name of the specific Linux Distribution WSL uses), and run that application. Another terminal window should appear. This terminal window isn’t a powershell window or a CMD window, but instead is the Bash Linux Terminal that will be used to control all of your interactions with WSL.

Screenshot of the Windows Start menu showing the Ubuntu app highlighted under ‘Best match.’ The right panel displays the Ubuntu logo and options such as Open, Run as administrator, Pin to Start, and Uninstall. The background is a purple gradient typical of the Windows 11 interface.
Launching the Ubuntu app from the Windows Start menu after installation.


Within this terminal type and enter:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade


These commands will prompt you to enter in your password as these commands update the apt tool for Linux, and is required to install future software packages.

Part 3. Setting Up macOS For Development

(If you are using Windows and finished Part 2, skip this section and go to Part 4.)
Windows without WSL is often very hard to navigate due to Window’s various obstructions. Additionally, many software suites do not support Windows, and only support Linux and macOS. Even though only some courses at GT will require Windows users to install and use WSL for some projects, we recommened to use WSL for all software related projects when using a Windows device. Another option is using macOS, which we will help you setup below!

Step 1. Update macOS

First, ensure your Macbook is up-to-date. To do this, click on the  Apple menu -> System Settings -> General -> Software Update

Screenshot of macOS System Settings showing the General tab selected. The left sidebar lists options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Network, and Accessibility. The right panel displays settings for About, Software Update, Storage, AppleCare & Warranty, and other general preferences. The Apple menu is open at the top left, showing options such as About This Mac, System Settings, and Restart.
Accessing the General section in macOS System Settings for updates and preferences.

Step 2. Installing Homebrew

Homebrew is a tool for macOS that will allow you to install other software tools and packages. To install Homebrew, first open up the terminal application and type:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
If you run this and it requests for “sudo” type in your macOS password and press enter.

Screenshot of the macOS Terminal running a command to install Homebrew using curl. The command line shows the script being fetched from GitHub and the terminal requesting the user’s password for sudo access with the message ‘Checking for sudo access (which may request your password)…’.
Running the Homebrew installation command in the macOS Terminal using sudo access.

Step 3. Installing Xcode Command Line Tools

Xcode is exclusive for macOS, but the command line tool kit will help us install other essential developer tools.
To install Xcode Command Line Tools, open macOS Terminal, then type:

xcode-select --install

press enter. A popup will appear, click “Install” in the pop-up

A screenshot of a macOS Terminal window. The user has run the command xcode-select --install. The terminal returns the message: 'xcode-select: note: Command line tools are already installed. Use "Software Update" in System Settings or the softwareupdate command line interface to install updates'.
Running the Homebrew installation command in the macOS Terminal using sudo access.

Part 4. Downloading and Configuring VSCode

VSCode is an integrated development environment (IDE) that offers language support for any coding language you may ever use at Georgia Tech. It’s simple, easy to use, and quick to set up, which is why we recommend using it. Other than its simplicity and adaptability, many GT CS courses just require or recommend VSCode to be used for coursework. If you decide that VSCode is not your cup of tea, we have also provided a list of other IDEs at the end of this section.

Step 1. Download VSCode + Language Runtimes

First, we have to install VSCode. Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/download and select the version that matches your laptop. Note that even though for Windows we have installed WSL, you want to install VSCode for Windows. Next, you’re going to want to ensure that you have the desired runtime of your language installed. As an
example, we will show the download for Python, which is used in CS 1301, the intro CS class at GT.

The download for Python can be found at this link:
https://www.python.org/downloads/

Make sure you install whichever specific runtime
version your class requires!

The download page for Visual Studio Code, showing installation options for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Each operating system is in its own column with a primary download button and links for specific versions, such as x64, Arm64, Intel chip, and Apple silicon.
Official Visual Studio Code download page showing options for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Step 2. Add Key Extensions

In VS Code, you can check out the Extensions panel (the square icon on the left).

The Visual Studio Code interface is shown, displaying the welcome page. On the far left, in the main activity bar, several arrows point to the 'Extensions' icon, which is represented by four squares.
Visual Studio Code welcome interface with options to open projects and start coding.

Some popular extensions to use are:

WSL – this extension is required in order for VSCode on Windows to interact with your WSL system

Python (by Microsoft) – this makes coding in Python easier with features like running your code and spotting mistakes.
GitHub Copilot – gives you code suggestions as you type (kind of like autocomplete, but smarter).
Prettier – Code Formatter – automatically cleans up your code so it looks neat and consistent.

An infographic titled "Essential VSCode Extensions". The image displays four vertical panels against a dark background. From left to right, the panels are: a dark blue panel with the Python logo, labeled "Python by Microsoft"; a purple panel with the GitHub Copilot logo; a purple-and-blue panel with the Prettier logo; and a teal panel with the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) penguin logo.
This infographic highlights four essential VSCode extensions: Python (by Microsoft), GitHub Copilot, Prettier, and WSL.

Step 3. Test!

Open the terminal in VS Code. Run a simple print("Hello, world!") in Python.
Try out the debugger or Git if you’re curious.

A screenshot of the Visual Studio Code editor. In the top pane, a Python file named test.py contains the single line of code: print("hello world!"). The bottom pane shows the integrated terminal, which is open with a command prompt ready for input.
Executing a Python “Hello World” script inside Visual Studio Code on macOS.

(Optional) Step 4. Download Alternative IDEs

  • PyCharm: IDE used specifically for Python, sometimes used in CS 2340
  • IntelliJ: IDE for Java, and is used specifically in CS 1332
  • Android Studio: IDE for Android app development, still used in some CS 2340 courses

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