Get your laptop ready in about 20 minutes.
Do this before Day 1 so the whole workshop goes into building. You install the same tools professional AI engineers use: VS Code, Python with Jupyter, Git and GitHub, and an AI coding assistant.
- A laptop or desktop (not a phone or tablet)
- Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or macOS 12+ (Linux works too)
- At least 4 GB RAM (8 GB+ recommended; 16 GB for workshops with Docker labs)
- About 5 GB of free disk space
- Permission to install software (on office laptops, ask IT or use the cloud backup)
- Stable internet for the installation (a mobile hotspot is fine)
Step 1 · Run the installer
It installs only what's missing (VS Code, Git, uv for Python), adds the VS Code extensions, downloads the workshop lab and installs its packages. Safe to run again.
Press Start, type PowerShell, open it (not as admin) and paste:
$env:VP_WORKSHOP="build"; irm https://vithuproai.com/setup/install.ps1 | iexOpen Terminal and paste:
curl -fsSL https://vithuproai.com/setup/install.sh | VP_WORKSHOP=build bash🎬 Video: Running the installer (Windows & Mac) (coming soon)
Step 2 · GitHub account
Create a free account at github.com with the same email you gave us. In VS Code click the Accounts icon (bottom left) → Sign in with GitHub.
🎬 Video: GitHub account and sign-in (coming soon)
Step 3 · Save your access key
VS Code opens the lab folder at the end of Step 1. Open a terminal there (Terminal → New Terminal) and run:
uv run vp setupEnter your WhatsApp number and your access key. It stays on your laptop.
Keep it private. It works during the workshop and for 30 days after.
Your key is in the setup link we sent you on WhatsApp: open that link to see it here.
Step 4 · Run notebook 0
Open notebooks/00_ready.ipynb, choose the .venv kernel (top right) and run all cells. You'll talk to an AI model from your own laptop.
🎬 Video: Opening the notebook and choosing the kernel (coming soon)
Step 5 · Check you're ready
uv run vp check✅ on every line means you're ready. The result reaches us automatically, so you won't get more reminders. Any ❌ shows exactly what to fix.
🎬 Video: vp check and what to do with ❌ (coming soon)
Optional · AI coding assistant
The installer adds GitHub Copilot to VS Code; sign in with GitHub and choose the free plan. Already have Claude Code or another assistant? Use it.
Optional · Docker Desktop
Only one lab in this workshop uses Docker. Install Docker Desktop (Windows needs WSL 2: run wsl --install in an admin PowerShell, then restart). On 4 GB laptops, use the cloud backup for Docker labs.
🎬 Video: Docker Desktop setup (coming soon)
Open the lab in your browser instead: go to the lab on GitHub → green Code button → Codespaces → Create. Then run uv run vp setup and uv run vp check in its terminal.
Fixes for common problems
Windows: "running scripts is disabled on this system"
Open PowerShell and run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned, answer Y, then run the installer again.
"winget is not recognized" (Windows)
Install App Installer from the Microsoft Store, restart PowerShell and run the installer again.
"code", "git" or "uv" not found right after installing
Close all terminals and VS Code and open them again (new commands appear after a restart). Still missing? Restart the laptop and run the installer once more.
Mac: "install command line tools" pop-up
Click Install, wait until it finishes, then run the installer again.
Jupyter: no kernel, or ".venv" not in the list
In VS Code press Ctrl+Shift+P (Mac: Cmd+Shift+P) → Python: Select Interpreter → choose .venv. Reopen the notebook and pick the kernel again. No .venv? Run uv sync in the lab folder.
vp check says packages are missing
In the lab folder run uv sync, then uv run vp check.
AI access key rejected
Copy the key again from WhatsApp (no spaces) and run uv run vp setup. Still rejected? Reply Need help on WhatsApp.
GitHub sign-in keeps looping
In VS Code: Accounts icon (bottom left) → Sign in with GitHub → allow in the browser. On an office laptop, try your personal browser profile.
Office or college network blocks downloads
Use a mobile hotspot for the installation, or use the Codespaces backup.
Antivirus blocks the installer
Allow it once, or install VS Code and Git manually from code.visualstudio.com and git-scm.com, then run the installer again.
"No space left on device"
Free at least 5 GB of disk space and run the installer again.
Laptop has 4 GB RAM and feels slow
Close other apps and browser tabs during the workshop. Docker labs run better in the Codespaces backup.
Docker: "WSL 2 is not installed" or "virtualization disabled"
In an admin PowerShell run wsl --install and restart. If virtualization is disabled in BIOS, use the Codespaces backup.