Environment Setup

Note: If you decided to use the online Rover Lab, you could safely skip this section!

Python

In this project, and throughout this term of the program, you will be using Python to perform data analysis and issue commands to your robots in simulation. If you feel like you need a refresher on Python, Udacity offers a free course: Programming Foundations with Python to get you up and running with object oriented programming in Python.

Git

We have put together a starter kit for you to get your Python environment installed with all the packages you need for the term. The instructions for getting setup are in a GitHub repository. We'll be using GitHub throughout this program to share code and data with you. If you are unfamiliar GitHub you can get up and running quickly using GitHub tutorial or by taking this free short course on using GitHub from Udacity.

Anaconda

We'll be using Anaconda from Continuum Analytics to install Python and Jupyter Notebooks to do analysis in the projects. If you are unfamiliar with Anaconda and Jupyter, check out this free short course on Anaconda and Jupyter provided by Udacity (note: if you follow along with this course you will have Anaconda installed and can skip to the step labeled "Setup your RoboND Environment" in the instructions linked below).

Once you're comfortable with Git and GitHub, as well as Anaconda and Jupyter, follow along with these instructions on getting setup with Python using Anaconda.

Note for Mac users:

Please see this thread for possible issues with Jupyter if you have recently updated OSX.

Note for Linux users:

If you have ROS installed (or planning to install ROS), please see this warning about resolving potential conflicts between the different Python versions installed via Anaconda and ROS.