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AI Engineering·How-To

Setting Up Your AI Workspace

A complete guide to installing Python, VS Code, and Antigravity IDE for your AI projects.

Uma Kiran Ramadugu
Uma Kiran Ramadugu·Sep 3, 2026·~10 min setup

Before you can start building powerful AI applications, you need a robust local development environment. This guide will walk you through setting up Python, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), and the Antigravity IDE extension—an essential toolset for AI Engineering.

    <!-- Section 1: Python -->

1. Installing Python

Python is the lingua franca of AI and machine learning. You’ll need it to run scripts, use the OpenAI SDK, and build applications.

  1. Download Python: Go to the official Python website and download the latest stable release (e.g., Python 3.10 or higher).

  2. Install (Windows): Run the installer. Crucial step: Check the box that says “Add Python to PATH” at the bottom of the installation window before clicking “Install Now”.

  3. Install (macOS/Linux): Run the downloaded package. Alternatively, use Homebrew on macOS (brew install python) or your distribution’s package manager on Linux.

  4. Verify Installation: Open your terminal (or Command Prompt) and type python --version (or python3 --version). You should see the version number printed.

     <!-- Section 2: VS Code -->

2. Setting Up Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, extensible code editor that is highly popular in the developer community.

  1. Download VS Code: Visit code.visualstudio.com and download the installer for your operating system.

  2. Install: Follow the standard installation process.

  3. Install the Python Extension: Open VS Code, go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X), search for “Python” (by Microsoft), and click Install. This provides syntax highlighting, linting, and debugging for Python.

     <!-- Section 3: Antigravity -->

3. Installing Antigravity IDE

Antigravity is a powerful AI coding assistant extension for VS Code that pairs with you to write code, debug issues, and manage your workspace directly from the editor.

  1. Open Extensions: In VS Code, open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X).

  2. Search for Antigravity: Type “Antigravity IDE” in the search bar.

  3. Install: Click the Install button on the extension page.

  4. Authenticate: Once installed, click on the Antigravity icon in the activity bar (usually on the left). Follow the prompts to authenticate or log in to your account to activate the AI features.

  5. Start Coding: You can now use the chat interface to ask Antigravity to write scripts, explain code, or run commands on your behalf!

     <!-- Section 4: Testing the Setup -->

4. Testing Your Setup

Let’s make sure everything works together:

  1. Create a new folder on your computer (e.g., ai-workspace) and open it in VS Code (File > Open Folder).
  2. Create a new file called hello.py.
  3. Type the following code (or ask Antigravity to write it for you!): print("Hello, AI Engineering!")
  4. Open the integrated terminal in VS Code (Terminal > New Terminal) and run: python hello.py (or python3 hello.py).
  5. You should see the greeting printed in the terminal. Your workspace is ready!
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