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:
- A code editor (VS Code)
- A terminal application
- Git (version control)
- Python 3 (programming language)
- AWS CLI (command-line interface for AWS)
- 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
- Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/download
- Click the macOS button to download the
.zipfile - Open the downloaded file — it will extract
Visual Studio Code.app - Drag
Visual Studio Code.appinto your Applications folder - Open VS Code from Applications
Windows
- Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/download
- Click the Windows button to download the installer
- Run the installer (
.exefile) - Accept the license agreement
- Important: Check the box that says "Add to PATH" during installation
- 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
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| 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 install | Restart your computer (PATH changes require a restart) |
Linux: code command not found | Close 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.
- Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click Start, select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)")
- Run:
wsl --install - Restart your computer
- After restart, Ubuntu will finish installing (this takes a few minutes)
- Create a username and password when prompted
Note: If
wsl --installfails, 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
- Go to https://git-scm.com/download/win
- Download the installer (it should start automatically)
- Run the installer with default options
- Important: On the "Adjusting your PATH environment" screen, select "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software"
- 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
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
git: command not found | Close 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 stuck | Try downloading Git directly from git-scm.com instead |
| Windows: Git Bash won't open | Search 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
- Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/
- Click "Download Python 3.x.x" (the latest version)
- Run the installer package
- Important: On the first screen, check "Add Python to PATH" if the option appears
Windows
- Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/
- Click "Download Python 3.x.x"
- Run the installer
- Critical: Check the box at the bottom that says "Add python.exe to PATH" before clicking Install
- 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
python3doesn't work, trypython --versioninstead. Windows sometimes usespythonrather thanpython3.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
python3: command not found | Close 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 Store | Go 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 Linux | Make 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
- Go to https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi
- Run the downloaded MSI installer
- Follow the prompts (default options are fine)
- 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
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
aws: command not found | Close 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 found | Run sudo apt install -y unzip first, then retry |
| Windows: still not found after restart | Open 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:
- Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/
- Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/
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