Hands-on LabIT Fundamentals · Module 00

Lab: Module 00: How to Use This Bootcamp

Lab 00: Software Installation and Environment Setup

Overview

This lab walks you through installing the tools you'll need for the AWS Bootcamp. By the end, your computer will be ready for every lab in the curriculum.

Estimated time: 30-45 minutes

What you'll install:

  1. A code editor (VS Code)
  2. A terminal application
  3. Git (version control)
  4. Python 3 (programming language)
  5. AWS CLI (command-line interface for AWS)
  6. A modern web browser (Chrome or Firefox)

Chromebook users: If you're using a Chromebook, AWS CloudShell (available after creating your AWS account in Module 01) will be your primary terminal. You can skip the terminal, Git, Python, and AWS CLI installation steps below. CloudShell comes with all of these pre-installed. You will still want Chrome or Firefox (which you already have) and can use the built-in text editor or a web-based editor.

Step 1: Install VS Code

VS Code is a free code editor that works on all platforms. You'll use it to edit configuration files, write Python scripts, and work with infrastructure-as-code templates.

macOS

  1. Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/download
  2. Click the macOS button to download the .zip file
  3. Open the downloaded file — it will extract Visual Studio Code.app
  4. Drag Visual Studio Code.app into your Applications folder
  5. Open VS Code from Applications

Windows

  1. Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/download
  2. Click the Windows button to download the installer
  3. Run the installer (.exe file)
  4. Accept the license agreement
  5. Important: Check the box that says "Add to PATH" during installation
  6. Click Install, then Finish

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y wget gpg
wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > packages.microsoft.gpg
sudo install -D -o root -g root -m 644 packages.microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y code

Expected Outcome

When you open VS Code, you should see a Welcome tab with getting-started options. If you see this, the installation was successful.

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
macOS: "app can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer"Right-click the app, select "Open", then click "Open" in the dialog
Windows: VS Code not found after installRestart your computer (PATH changes require a restart)
Linux: code command not foundClose and reopen your terminal, then try again

Step 2: Set Up Your Terminal

The terminal is where you'll run commands throughout the bootcamp. It's how you interact with AWS, Git, and your server instances.

macOS

Your terminal is already installed. Open Terminal.app (search for "Terminal" in Spotlight with Cmd+Space).

To verify it works, type:

echo "Hello from the terminal"

You should see: Hello from the terminal

Windows

You have two options. Choose one:

Option A: Git Bash (simpler)

Git Bash will be installed automatically when you install Git in Step 3. It provides a Linux-like terminal experience on Windows.

Option B: WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux — more powerful)

WSL gives you a full Linux environment inside Windows. It's more powerful but takes longer to set up.

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click Start, select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)")
  2. Run: wsl --install
  3. Restart your computer
  4. After restart, Ubuntu will finish installing (this takes a few minutes)
  5. Create a username and password when prompted

💡Note: If wsl --install fails, your Windows version may need updating. Use Git Bash instead — it works perfectly for this bootcamp.

Linux

Your terminal is already installed. Open it from your applications menu or press Ctrl+Alt+T.

Expected Outcome

You have a terminal window open where you can type commands and see output.

Step 3: Install Git

Git is version control software. You'll use it to track changes to your code and configuration files.

macOS

Open Terminal and run:

xcode-select --install

A dialog will appear asking you to install developer tools. Click "Install" and wait (this may take 5-10 minutes).

Alternatively, download from https://git-scm.com/download/mac.

Windows

  1. Go to https://git-scm.com/download/win
  2. Download the installer (it should start automatically)
  3. Run the installer with default options
  4. Important: On the "Adjusting your PATH environment" screen, select "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software"
  5. Complete the installation

This also installs Git Bash, which you can use as your terminal.

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git

Verification

Open your terminal (or Git Bash on Windows) and run:

git --version

Expected output: git version 2.x.x (the exact number doesn't matter — any version 2.x works)

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
git: command not foundClose and reopen your terminal. If still not found, the installation didn't add Git to your PATH. Reinstall and ensure the PATH option is checked.
macOS: Xcode install stuckTry downloading Git directly from git-scm.com instead
Windows: Git Bash won't openSearch for "Git Bash" in the Start menu. If not found, reinstall Git.

Step 4: Install Python 3

Python is used for AWS Lambda functions, automation scripts, and the AWS SDK (boto3). You'll write Python code starting in the bootcamp.

macOS

Option A: Using Homebrew (recommended if you have Homebrew)

brew install python3

Option B: Direct download

  1. Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/
  2. Click "Download Python 3.x.x" (the latest version)
  3. Run the installer package
  4. Important: On the first screen, check "Add Python to PATH" if the option appears

Windows

  1. Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/
  2. Click "Download Python 3.x.x"
  3. Run the installer
  4. Critical: Check the box at the bottom that says "Add python.exe to PATH" before clicking Install
  5. Click "Install Now"

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3 python3-pip

Verification

Open your terminal and run:

python3 --version

Expected output: Python 3.x.x (any version 3.8 or higher works)

Windows note: If python3 doesn't work, try python --version instead. Windows sometimes uses python rather than python3.

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
python3: command not foundClose and reopen your terminal. If still not found, Python wasn't added to PATH during installation. Reinstall and check the "Add to PATH" box.
Windows: python opens Microsoft StoreGo to Settings > Apps > App execution aliases and disable the "App Installer" entries for python.exe and python3.exe. Then reinstall Python with the PATH option checked.
macOS: python3 shows old version (2.x)Use python3 explicitly (not python). If you get 2.x from python3, reinstall from python.org
Permission errors on LinuxMake sure you're using sudo with the apt commands

Step 5: Install AWS CLI

The AWS CLI lets you interact with AWS services from your terminal. You'll use this starting in Week 1 of the main bootcamp.

macOS

curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.pkg" -o "AWSCLIV2.pkg"
sudo installer -pkg AWSCLIV2.pkg -target /
rm AWSCLIV2.pkg

Windows

  1. Go to https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi
  2. Run the downloaded MSI installer
  3. Follow the prompts (default options are fine)
  4. Close and reopen your terminal after installation

Linux

curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
unzip awscliv2.zip
sudo ./aws/install
rm -rf awscliv2.zip aws/

Verification

Open a new terminal window and run:

aws --version

Expected output: aws-cli/2.x.x Python/3.x.x ... (the exact numbers don't matter)

💡Note: You will configure the AWS CLI with your credentials in Module 01 of the main bootcamp. For now, just verify it's installed.

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
aws: command not foundClose ALL terminal windows and open a fresh one. The PATH update only applies to new terminals.
macOS: "installer: not authorized"Make sure you're using sudo before the installer command
Linux: unzip: command not foundRun sudo apt install -y unzip first, then retry
Windows: still not found after restartOpen a new Command Prompt (not the same one). If still missing, check that C:\Program Files\Amazon\AWSCLIV2\ exists in your system PATH.

Step 6: Verify Your Browser

You need a modern web browser for the AWS Management Console.

Recommended: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox

If you don't have one, download from:

The AWS Console works in Safari and Edge as well, but Chrome and Firefox have the best developer tools for debugging.

Validation Checklist

Run each command below and confirm you see the expected output. If any fail, go back to the relevant step above.

# 1. Git
git --version
# Expected: git version 2.x.x

# 2. Python
python3 --version
# Expected: Python 3.x.x (3.8 or higher)

# 3. AWS CLI
aws --version
# Expected: aws-cli/2.x.x Python/3.x.x ...

Visual checks:

  • VS Code opens and shows a Welcome tab
  • Your terminal opens and accepts commands
  • Chrome or Firefox is installed and opens

All checks passing? You're ready to start the bootcamp. Proceed to Module 01: Cloud Fundamentals or continue with the IT Fundamentals modules if you're working through those first.

Common PATH Issues (All Platforms)

The most common installation problem is "command not found" — this means the tool is installed but your terminal can't find it. This happens when the tool isn't in your system's PATH (the list of places your terminal looks for programs).

Quick fix for all platforms: Close ALL terminal windows and open a new one. Most installers update the PATH, but only new terminal sessions pick up the change.

If that doesn't work:

  • macOS/Linux: Add the tool's location to your shell configuration:

    echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

  • Windows: Search for "Environment Variables" in the Start menu, click "Edit the system environment variables", click "Environment Variables", find "Path" under System variables, click Edit, and add the path to the tool.

If you're still stuck after 15 minutes, ask for help. Include: your operating system, the exact command you ran, and the exact error message you received.

AWS Bootcamp: From Novice to Architect Author: Samuel Ogunti License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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