Python Setup
This comprehensive guide will walk you through creating the optimal development environment for working with AI and Large Language Models (LLMs).
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- A computer with at least 8GB RAM (16GB+ recommended)
- Administrator/sudo access to your system
- Basic familiarity with command line interfaces
- At least 5GB of free disk space
- A reliable internet connection
Installing Python
LLM development typically requires Python 3.8 or newer.
# For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3.11 python3-pip
# For macOS with Homebrew
brew install python@3.11
# For Windows
# Download from python.org and run the installer
Setting Up Virtual Environments
It’s recommended to use virtual environments for your projects:
# Create a virtual environment
python -m venv myenv
# Activate on Windows
myenv\Scripts\activate
# Activate on macOS/Linux
source myenv/bin/activate
Installing Essential Libraries
With your environment activated, install the necessary packages:
pip install numpy pandas matplotlib scikit-learn torch transformers
GPU Setup (Recommended)
For optimal performance with machine learning models:
NVIDIA GPU Setup
# Install CUDA toolkit and cuDNN
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118
AMD GPU Setup
# For ROCm support
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/rocm5.6
IDE Setup
VS Code (Recommended)
- Download from code.visualstudio.com
- Install Python extension
- Configure for your virtual environment
PyCharm
- Download Community or Professional edition
- Set up interpreter pointing to your virtual environment
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues during installation, here are some common problems and solutions:
Path Issues on Windows
Ensure Python is added to your PATH environment variable during installation.
Package Installation Errors
Try upgrading pip first: pip install --upgrade pip