First-Time Coder Kit

Every link and command from the lesson notes and the build guide, with one line on what it is for.

Self-pacedFDE Roadmap · Block 1

How to use this

Install only what section 1 lists. Read section 2 once. Keep section 3 open while you type. Everything else is optional until a lesson points you at it.

Your machine

Commands below switch to match

1Install These (and nothing else yet)

The language

Python 3

The official page detects your OS. Windows: tick Add Python to PATH.Mac: run the installer through.

The IDE · pick one only

VS Code

Free. The default if unsure.

Alternative: Cursor, paid plan needed for its models, fine if you already have it.

The library

Gradio

Draws the chat or form interface. Installed from the terminal, not downloaded (docs).

pip install gradio

pip3 install gradio

2Read or Watch Once

Resource	What it gives you
Lesson notes: Building UI, Design to Code	The derivation of Aarav's interface and the first Gradio code. Sections 12, 13 and 16 are the setup sections.
Practice Set: Replay Before You Render	The exercise the build guide builds on. Track A and Track B are defined here.
Aarav discovery document (from the lesson)	The Track B starting point. Replace Aarav with yourself.
Golden pair template (from the lesson)	The format for input, output and verification plan.
Big Binary Python prerequisite	Python syntax: variables, functions, if, return. Do it if the template was hard to read.
Gradio quickstart	The official two-minute version of Hello World with gr.Interface.
Gradio chatbot guide	gr.ChatInterface explained: the interface the template uses.
The roadmap: Back to the roadmap	Where you are: Block 1, Ship the first system.

3Commands You Will Type

Command	What it does	When
python --version python3 --version	Prints the installed Python version	Tick 1. If not recognised: reinstall with Add Python to PATH.If python3 is not found, try python.
pip install gradio pip3 install gradio	Downloads Gradio and what it depends on	Tick 4. pip3 if pip is not found.
python -m pip install gradio python3 -m pip install gradio	Same install, forced to use the Python you run	When you see `No module named gradio`
python app.py python3 app.py	Runs your file and prints the local URL	Tick 5, and every time you change the file
`Ctrl`+`C` (in the terminal)	Stops the running app	Before running again, and when you see `Address already in use`

4Words You Will Meet

TerminalWhere you type commands: Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows, Terminal on Mac, or View, Terminal inside your IDE.

IDEA notepad for code that can also run it and show errors. VS Code is one.

pipPython's installer. pip install X fetches library X from the internet.

LibraryCode someone else wrote that you import. Gradio is a library.

importThe line at the top of a file that loads a library. import gradio as gr lets you write gr.ChatInterface.

defDefines a function: a named block of code that takes inputs and returns an output.

returnHands the output back. The function stops at the first return it reaches.

ifRuns the next indented lines only when the condition is true.

StringText inside quotes. GOLDEN_INPUT is a string.

VariableA name that holds a value. GOLDEN_OUTPUT is a variable holding a string.

localhostYour own computer, as a web address: http://127.0.0.1:7860.

PortThe number after the colon. 7860 is Gradio's default.

TracebackPython's error report. Read the last line first; it names the error.

5Deploy Links (when you are ready, not before)

Used in the build guide

Hugging Face Spaces

Free ZeroGPU, two Spaces, account must be 30 days old. Create the account today.

6Optional Viewing

DHH, Rails World 2026 opening keynote watch. Why the person who built Ruby on Rails now writes 3% Ruby.

7Where to Get Unstuck

Situation	Do this
Setup or template error, under 20 minutes in	Read the last line of the traceback, check the error table in the build guide, try the fix once
Same error after 20 minutes	Ask for help with the exact error, what you tried and a screenshot. Help-post builder.
Not sure if your spec is right	Compare it with the worked examples in the build guide
You fixed something	Add it to your error log, and share it if you learn with others. Your fix is someone else's blocker.

Install section 1. Read section 2. Keep section 3 open.Companions: build guide · checklist