Installation

Positron recommended; VS Code with extensions as an alternative

Python

Already have Python? Keep the Python installation you normally use and continue to Choose an editor. You do not need to reinstall Python or create a special environment for this session.

Install Python only if you do not have it

Download Python from python.org. Use a stable release, not a pre-release.

macOS: Download the macOS installer (.pkg), open it, and follow the installation steps. Afterwards, open the new Python folder in Applications and double-click Install Certificates.command.

Windows: Download and install the Python Install Manager. Open PowerShell, then run:

py install default

This installs the default stable Python release. These steps are only for a new installation; leave an existing working Python setup alone.

Close and reopen your editor and terminal after installation. To check Python, run the command for your computer in a terminal:

Computer	Command
macOS	`python3 --version`
Windows	`py --version`

The result should begin with Python 3. Continue below to select that installation in your editor and add the required packages.

Python on macOS · Python on Windows

Choose an editor

We recommend Positron for writing Quarto documents. You can also use VS Code with the Quarto, Python, and Jupyter extensions. Choose one editor; you do not need both.

Editor	Install from
Positron — recommended	Positron downloads
VS Code — alternative	VS Code downloads

Positron (recommended)

Install Positron, then open it. Use the Interpreter picker at the top right to select the Python installation you normally use, or the one you just installed. If no Python session is running, choose New Console Session… and select Python.

Positron includes Quarto, the Quarto extension, and Python editing and interactive execution. No separate editor extensions are needed for this session. You still need the Python packages and TinyTeX described below.

Quarto in Positron · Selecting Python

VS Code (alternative)

You can do the same work in VS Code. Install VS Code, if needed, and the Quarto program. In VS Code’s Extensions panel, install:

Extension	Identifier
Quarto	`quarto.quarto`
Python — Microsoft	`ms-python.python`
Jupyter — Microsoft	`ms-toolsai.jupyter`

Restart VS Code after installation. Use Python: Select Interpreter in the Command Palette to select the Python installation you normally use, or the one you just installed.

The Quarto program and its VS Code extension are separate installations. These VS Code extension steps are not needed in Positron.

VS Code setup

Check the Quarto command

Open Terminal → New Terminal in Positron/VS Code and run:

quarto --version

If the terminal cannot find quarto, install the standalone Quarto program and restart your editor. Positron’s built-in Quarto support does not necessarily make the command available in every terminal.

Install the Python packages

Use the terminal, not a Python cell. Install the packages into the same Python installation you selected in Positron/VS Code.

macOS:

python3 -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate

Windows:

py -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate

If you normally start your chosen Python with python instead, use:

python -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate

Run one of these commands, using the command that starts your chosen Python. jupyter executes Python during rendering; pandas, matplotlib, and tabulate support the template’s data, graph, and table code.

Selecting Python in the editor does not necessarily change which Python a terminal command uses. The check below shows the Python installation Quarto finds for rendering.

Python setup · Table conversion

Install TinyTeX for PDFs

In the terminal:

quarto install tinytex

Skip this if you already have a working LaTeX installation. Installation and the first PDF render may need an internet connection to download packages.

PDF setup

Check the document

quarto check jupyter

Check that the Python path shown matches the installation you intend to use.

Download the document template. Save it in an ordinary working folder, outside this teaching website. Open that folder in Positron/VS Code, then open a new terminal there and run:

quarto render document-template.qmd --to html
quarto render document-template.qmd --to pdf

Open the resulting HTML and PDF files. If a package is missing, install it into the Python installation shown by quarto check jupyter.

Continue to Workflow.

--- title: "Installation" subtitle: "Positron recommended; VS Code with extensions as an alternative" --- # Python **Already have Python?** Keep the Python installation you normally use and continue to [Choose an editor](#choose-an-editor). You do not need to reinstall Python or create a special environment for this session. ## Install Python only if you do not have it Download Python from [python.org](https://www.python.org/downloads/). Use a stable release, not a pre-release. **macOS:** Download the macOS installer (`.pkg`), open it, and follow the installation steps. Afterwards, open the new Python folder in **Applications** and double-click **Install Certificates.command**. **Windows:** Download and install the **Python Install Manager**. Open **PowerShell**, then run: ```powershell py install default ``` This installs the default stable Python release. These steps are only for a new installation; leave an existing working Python setup alone. Close and reopen your editor and terminal after installation. To check Python, run the command for your computer in a terminal: | Computer | Command | |:---|:---| | macOS | `python3 --version` | | Windows | `py --version` | The result should begin with `Python 3`. Continue below to select that installation in your editor and add the required packages. [Python on macOS](https://docs.python.org/3/using/mac.html) · [Python on Windows](https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html) # Choose an editor **We recommend Positron for writing Quarto documents.** You can also use **VS Code with the Quarto, Python, and Jupyter extensions**. Choose one editor; you do not need both. | Editor | Install from | |:---|:---| | **Positron — recommended** | [Positron downloads](https://positron.posit.co/download.html) | | VS Code — alternative | [VS Code downloads](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) | ## Positron (recommended) Install [Positron](https://positron.posit.co/download.html), then open it. Use the **Interpreter picker** at the top right to select the Python installation you normally use, or the one you just installed. If no Python session is running, choose **New Console Session…** and select Python. Positron includes Quarto, the Quarto extension, and Python editing and interactive execution. **No separate editor extensions are needed for this session.** You still need the Python packages and TinyTeX described below. [Quarto in Positron](https://positron.posit.co/quarto.html) · [Selecting Python](https://positron.posit.co/managing-interpreters.html) ## VS Code (alternative) You can do the same work in VS Code. Install [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download), if needed, and the [Quarto program](https://quarto.org/docs/download/). In VS Code's **Extensions** panel, install: | Extension | Identifier | |:---|:---| | Quarto | `quarto.quarto` | | Python — Microsoft | `ms-python.python` | | Jupyter — Microsoft | `ms-toolsai.jupyter` | Restart VS Code after installation. Use **Python: Select Interpreter** in the Command Palette to select the Python installation you normally use, or the one you just installed. The Quarto program and its VS Code extension are separate installations. These VS Code extension steps are not needed in Positron. [VS Code setup](https://quarto.org/docs/get-started/hello/vscode.html) # Check the Quarto command Open **Terminal → New Terminal** in Positron/VS Code and run: ```bash quarto --version ``` If the terminal cannot find `quarto`, install the [standalone Quarto program](https://quarto.org/docs/download/) and restart your editor. Positron's built-in Quarto support does not necessarily make the command available in every terminal. # Install the Python packages Use the terminal, **not a Python cell**. Install the packages into the same Python installation you selected in Positron/VS Code. **macOS:** ```bash python3 -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate ``` **Windows:** ```powershell py -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate ``` If you normally start your chosen Python with `python` instead, use: ```bash python -m pip install jupyter pandas matplotlib tabulate ``` Run **one** of these commands, using the command that starts your chosen Python. `jupyter` executes Python during rendering; `pandas`, `matplotlib`, and `tabulate` support the template's data, graph, and table code. Selecting Python in the editor does not necessarily change which Python a terminal command uses. The check below shows the Python installation Quarto finds for rendering. [Python setup](https://quarto.org/docs/computations/python.html) · [Table conversion](https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/reference/api/pandas.DataFrame.to_markdown.html) # Install TinyTeX for PDFs In the terminal: ```bash quarto install tinytex ``` Skip this if you already have a working LaTeX installation. Installation and the first PDF render may need an internet connection to download packages. [PDF setup](https://quarto.org/docs/output-formats/pdf-basics.html) # Check the document ```bash quarto check jupyter ``` Check that the Python path shown matches the installation you intend to use. [Download the document template](downloads/document-template.qmd). Save it in an ordinary working folder, outside this teaching website. Open that folder in Positron/VS Code, then open a new terminal there and run: ```bash quarto render document-template.qmd --to html quarto render document-template.qmd --to pdf ``` Open the resulting HTML and PDF files. If a package is missing, install it into the Python installation shown by `quarto check jupyter`. Continue to [Workflow](workflow.qmd).