Setting up my development environment on windows.

Introduction.

I recently took the time to properly set up my development environment on Windows, and I thought it would be useful to share what I did for anyone else looking to do the same. Whether you're a beginner or switching from another setup, having the right tools configured can save you hours of frustration down the line.
Here’s a breakdown of how I got everything working — from WSL to Docker, Git, Python, and even SSH for smooth GitHub integration.
First thing I did was make sure Git was installed and properly configured to work with GitHub over SSH.
Steps:
-Installed Git from https://git-scm.com/downloads
-Checked the installation:
git --version
-Configured my user details:

git config --global user.name "Yvonne"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

-Generated an SSH key for GitHub:
`ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"

• Copied the SSH key to my clipboard: `cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub -Added the SSH key to my GitHub account under Settings > SSH and GPG Keys. -Tested the connection: ssh -T [email protected] No more typing passwords every time I push to GitHub — smooth and secure!

Installing Python 3.10+
I work with Python, so I made sure I had Python 3.10 or higher installed.
Steps:

• Downloaded Python from https://www.python.org/downloads/
• During installation, I made sure to check the box to add Python to PATH.
• Verified the installation: python --version -Installed pip (if not already included) and upgraded it: python -m ensurepip --upgrade python -m pip install --upgrade pip

Choosing a Text Editor
For coding, I use VS Code, but I also recommend PyCharm, especially if you're mainly working with Python projects.
Why VS Code?
-Lightweight, fast, and easy to customise.
-Tons of extensions (Python, Docker, Git integrations).
-Download from: https://code.visualstudio.com/

Setting Up WSL
I use WSL to get a full Linux development environment running inside Windows — this makes working with tools like Docker so much easier.
Steps:
-Installed WSL using:
wsl --install
-Installed Ubuntu as my preferred Linux distro.
-Confirmed everything was working:
wsl --list --verbose
I made sure I was running WSL 2, as it has better performance and Docker compatibility.

Getting Docker Working Inside WSL.
Next up was Docker. I wanted to run containers inside my WSL terminal without hassle.
What I Did:
-Installed Doker Desktop for windows:
https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop
Once WSL was running, I wanted to be able to use Docker commands directly inside my Ubuntu terminal. But when I tried running:
docker --version
I got an error saying Docker wasn’t recognised inside WSL.
Here’s how I fixed it:
-Opened Docker Desktop on Windows.

• Went to Settings > Resources > WSL Integration.
• Enabled integration for my Ubuntu distribution. After that, I restarted my terminal and ran docker --version again — and it worked! Now I can run Docker containers directly from my Ubuntu terminal, without switching back and forth between Windows and Linux environments.

Final Thoughts
Setting up your development environment properly takes time, but it’s worth every minute. With Git, Python, Docker, and WSL working together, everything feels much smoother and more efficient.

If you're thinking about setting up your own, I highly recommend:
-Using WSL to avoid headaches when switching between Windows and Linux tools.
-Connecting Git with SSH from the start to avoid constant password prompts.
-Choosing an editor (VS Code or PyCharm) that suits your workflow.
-Making sure you’re on the latest Python version.
This setup has made coding on Windows way more enjoyable for me. No more battling with permissions, version mismatches, or confusing terminal errors.
Hopefully, this helps someone else get their environment up and running too. If you've gone through this process or have tips to make it easier, I’d love to hear about it!