Python Setup in VS Code: Installation, Extensions, Libraries & pip

1. Architecture: VS Code → Python → Extension → Terminal → Libraries

For , separate the development environment into five layers. VS Code is the editor, Python is the interpreter, the Microsoft Python extension adds Python-aware tools, the integrated terminal runs commands, and libraries provide reusable capabilities for later automation projects.

2. How to Install Visual Studio Code on Windows

3. Install Python and Verify It

Download Python from the official Python website: python.org/downloads. On Windows, enable the installer option that makes Python available from the command line when offered, then complete the installation.

Verify Python

Open the VS Code terminal using Terminal → New Terminal and run:

python --version

You can also verify pip:

python -m pip --version

The integrated terminal is where learners verify Python, install external packages with pip, run Python files and inspect the current environment. Open it using Terminal → New Terminal or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+`.

4. VS Code Terminal: Your Main Command Area

5. How to Use Python as an Extension in VS Code

print("Python is working in VS Code")

6. Library, Package and Module: What Do These Words Mean?

Beginners often use the word library for all reusable Python code. That is acceptable in normal conversation, but the technical terms are useful:

7. Important Python Standard Library Modules and Applications

These modules normally require no separate pip installation because they are supplied with Python.

Standard Library Import Examples

from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path
import csv
import json
import logging
import os
import sys

8. Important External Libraries for Automation Applications

9. How to Install External Python Libraries

Open the VS Code terminal. For , install the external packages required by the later SQL Server → Excel → EXE project:

Optional first check — update pip

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

python -m pip install pyodbc pandas openpyxl pyinstaller

Check the installed packages:

python -m pip show pyodbc
python -m pip show pandas
python -m pip show openpyxl
python -m pip show pyinstaller

Or see the complete environment:

python -m pip list

10. Project Environment Readiness Test

This is the only copy-paste Python code required on . It does not connect to SQL Server, read plant data, create Excel files or build an EXE. Its purpose is only to confirm that Python and the libraries required by the later project can be imported successfully.

Create _library_check.py

from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path
import sys import pyodbc
import pandas as pd
import openpyxl
import PyInstaller print("=== SOFTWELL PYTHON READINESS CHECK ===") # Python interpreter
print("Python :", sys.version.split()[0]) # Standard Library checks
print("datetime : OK -", datetime.now().strftime("%d-%m-%Y %H:%M:%S"))
print("pathlib : OK -", Path.cwd()) # External package checks
print("pyodbc :", getattr(pyodbc, "version", "Installed"))
print("pandas :", pd.__version__)
print("openpyxl :", openpyxl.__version__)
print("PyInstaller :", PyInstaller.__version__) # Windows ODBC driver check for later SQL Server practical
odbc_drivers = pyodbc.drivers()
print("ODBC Drivers :", odbc_drivers) sql_server_drivers = [ driver for driver in odbc_drivers if "SQL Server" in driver
] if sql_server_drivers: print("SQL ODBC Driver : READY -", sql_server_drivers[-1])
else: print("SQL ODBC Driver : NOT FOUND") print("=== LIBRARY CHECK COMPLETE ===")

Run the readiness check

python _library_check.py

If a module is missing

python -m pip install pyodbc pandas openpyxl pyinstaller

If Python reports that the packages are installed but VS Code still cannot import them, re-check Python: Select Interpreter and confirm the VS Code terminal is using the same Python environment.

11. Important Comparison Tables

Standard Library vs External Library

VS Code vs Python vs Python Extension

Import vs Install