---
title: "Getting Started with this course"
source: Microsoft Generative AI for Beginners
source_url: https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners
licence: MIT
domain: agentic-ai
subdomain: ms-gen-ai-beginners
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

# Getting Started with this course

We are very excited for you to start this course and see what you get inspired to build with Generative AI!

To ensure your success, this page outlines setup steps, technical requirements, and where to get help if needed.

## Setup Steps

To start taking this course, you will need to complete the following steps.

### 1. Fork this Repo

[Fork this entire repo](https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/fork?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) to your own GitHub account to be able to change any code and complete the challenges. You can also [star (🌟) this repo](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/saving-repositories-with-stars?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) to find it and related repos easier.

### 2. Create a codespace

To avoid any dependency issues when running the code, we recommend running this course in a [GitHub Codespaces](https://github.com/features/codespaces?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).

In your fork: **Code -> Codespaces -> New on main**

![Dialog showing buttons to create a codespace](./images/who-will-pay.webp?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst)

#### 2.1 Add a secret

1. ⚙️ Gear icon -> Command Pallete-> Codespaces : Manage user secret -> Add a new secret.
2. Name OPENAI_API_KEY, paste your key, Save.

### 3.  What’s next?

| I want to…          | Go to…                                                                  |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Start Lesson 1      | [`01-introduction-to-genai`](../01-introduction-to-genai/README.md)     |
| Work offline        | [`setup-local.md`](02-setup-local.md)                                   |
| Setup an LLM Provider | [`providers.md`](03-providers.md)                                        |
| Meet other learners | [Join our Discord](https://aka.ms/genai-discord?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst)   |

## Troubleshooting


| Symptom                                   | Fix                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Container build stuck > 10 min            | **Codespaces ➜ “Rebuild Container”**                            |
| `python: command not found`               | Terminal didn’t attach; click **+** ➜ *bash*                    |
| `401 Unauthorized` from OpenAI            | Wrong / expired `OPENAI_API_KEY`                                |
| VS Code shows “Dev container mounting…”   | Refresh the browser tab—Codespaces sometimes loses connection   |
| Notebook kernel missing                   | Notebook menu ➜ **Kernel ▸ Select Kernel ▸ Python 3**           |

   Unix-based systems:

   ```bash
   touch .env
   ```

   Windows:

   ```cmd
   echo . > .env
   ```

3. **Edit the `.env` File**: Open the `.env` file in a text editor (e.g., VS Code, Notepad++, or any other editor). Add the following line to the file, replacing `your_github_token_here` with your actual GitHub token:

   ```env
   GITHUB_TOKEN=your_github_token_here
   ```

4. **Save the File**: Save the changes and close the text editor.

5. **Install `python-dotenv`**: If you haven't already, you'll need to install the `python-dotenv` package to load environment variables from the `.env` file into your Python application. You can install it using `pip`:

   ```bash
   pip install python-dotenv
   ```

6. **Load Environment Variables in Your Python Script**: In your Python script, use the `python-dotenv` package to load the environment variables from the `.env` file:

   ```python
   from dotenv import load_dotenv
   import os

   # Load environment variables from .env file
   load_dotenv()

   # Access the GITHUB_TOKEN variable
   github_token = os.getenv("GITHUB_TOKEN")

   print(github_token)
   ```

That's it! You've successfully created a `.env` file, added your GitHub token, and loaded it into your Python application.

## How to Run locally on your computer

To run the code locally on your computer, you would need to have some version of [Python installed](https://www.python.org/downloads/?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).

To then use the repository, you need to clone it:

```shell
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners
cd generative-ai-for-beginners
```

Once you have everything checked out, you can get started!

## Optional Steps

### Installing Miniconda

[Miniconda](https://conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) is a lightweight installer for installing [Conda](https://docs.conda.io/en/latest?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst), Python, as well as a few packages.
Conda itself is a package manager, that makes it easy to setup and switch between different Python [**virtual environments**](https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/venv.html?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) and packages. It also comes in handy for installing packages that are not available via `pip`.

You can follow the [MiniConda installation guide](https://docs.anaconda.com/free/miniconda/#quick-command-line-install?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) to set it up.

With Miniconda installed, you need to clone the [repository](https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/fork?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) (if you haven't already)

Next, you need to create a virtual environment. To do this with Conda, go ahead and create a new environment file (_environment.yml_). If you are following along using Codespaces, create this within the `.devcontainer` directory, thus `.devcontainer/environment.yml`.

Go ahead and populate your environment file with the snippet below:

```yml
name: <environment-name>
channels:
  - defaults
  - microsoft
dependencies:
  - python=<python-version>
  - openai
  - python-dotenv
  - pip
  - pip:
      - azure-ai-ml
```

If you find you are getting errors using conda you can manually install the Microsoft AI Libraries using the following command in a terminal.

```
conda install -c microsoft azure-ai-ml
```

The environment file specifies the dependencies we need. `<environment-name>` refers to the name you would like to use for your Conda environment, and `<python-version>` is the version of Python you would like to use, for example, `3` is the latest major version of Python.

With that done, you can go ahead and create your Conda environment by running the commands below in your command line/terminal

```bash
conda env create --name ai4beg --file .devcontainer/environment.yml # .devcontainer sub path applies to only Codespace setups
conda activate ai4beg
```

Refer to the [Conda environments guide](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/tasks/manage-environments.html?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) if you run into any issues.

### Using Visual Studio Code with the Python support extension

We recommend using the [Visual Studio Code (VS Code)](https://code.visualstudio.com/?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) editor with the [Python support extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python&WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) installed for this course. This is, however, more of a recommendation and not a definite requirement

> **Note**: By opening the course repository in VS Code, you have the option to set the project up within a container. This is because of the [special `.devcontainer`](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/devcontainers/containers?itemName=ms-python.python&WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) directory found within the course repository. More on this later.

> **Note**: Once you clone and open the directory in VS Code, it will automatically suggest you install a Python support extension.

> **Note**: If VS Code suggests you re-open the repository in a container, decline this request in order to use the locally installed version of Python.

### Using Jupyter in the Browser

You can also work on the project using the [Jupyter environment](https://jupyter.org?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) right within your browser. Both classic Jupyter and [Jupyter Hub](https://jupyter.org/hub?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) provide quite a pleasant development environment with features such as auto-completion, code highlighting, etc.

To start Jupyter locally, head over to the terminal/command line, navigate to the course directory, and execute:

```bash
jupyter notebook
```

or

```bash
jupyterhub
```

This will start a Jupyter instance and the URL to access it will be shown within the command line window.

Once you access the URL, you should see the course outline and be able to navigate to any `*.ipynb` file. For example, `08-building-search-applications/python/oai-solution.ipynb`.

### Running in a container

An alternative to setting everything up on your computer or Codespace is to use a [container](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization_(computing)?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst>). The special `.devcontainer` folder within the course repository makes it possible for VS Code to set up the project within a container. Outside of Codespaces, this will require the installation of Docker, and quite frankly, it involves a bit of work, so we recommend this only to those with experience working with containers.

One of the best ways to keep your API keys secure when using GitHub Codespaces is by using Codespace Secrets. Please follow the [Codespaces secrets management](https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/managing-your-codespaces/managing-secrets-for-your-codespaces?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) guide to learn more about this.


## Lessons and Technical Requirements

The course has 6 concept lessons and 6 coding lessons.

For the coding lessons, we are using the Azure OpenAI Service. You will need access to the Azure OpenAI service and an API key to run this code. You can apply to get access by [completing this application](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/ai-services/openai-service?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).

While you wait for your application to be processed, each coding lesson also includes a `README.md` file where you can view the code and outputs.

## Using the Azure OpenAI Service for the first time

If this is your first time working with the Azure OpenAI service, please follow this guide on how to [create and deploy an Azure OpenAI Service resource.](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/ai-services/openai/how-to/create-resource?pivots=web-portal&WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst)

## Using the OpenAI API for the first time

If this is your first time working with the OpenAI API, please follow the guide on how to [create and use the Interface.](https://platform.openai.com/docs/quickstart?context=pythont&WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst)

## Meet Other Learners

We have created channels in our official [AI Community Discord server](https://aka.ms/genai-discord?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) for meeting other learners. This is a great way to network with other like-minded entrepreneurs, builders, students, and anyone looking to level up in Generative AI.


The project team will also be on this Discord server to help any learners.

## Contribute

This course is an open-source initiative. If you see areas of improvement or issues, please create a [Pull Request](https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/pulls?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst) or log a [GitHub issue](https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/issues?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).

The project team will be tracking all contributions. Contributing to open source is an amazing way to build your career in Generative AI.

Most contributions require you to agree to a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to and actually do, grant us the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit [CLA, Contributor License Agreement website](https://cla.microsoft.com?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).

Important: when translating text in this repo, please ensure that you do not use machine translation. We will verify translations via the community, so please only volunteer for translations in languages where you are proficient.

When you submit a pull request, a CLA-bot will automatically determine whether you need to provide a CLA and decorate the PR appropriately (e.g., label, comment). Simply follow the instructions provided by the bot. You will only need to do this once across all repositories using our CLA.

This project has adopted the [Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct](https://opensource.microsoft.com/codeofconduct/?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst). For more information read the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact [Email opencode](opencode@microsoft.com) with any additional questions or comments.

## Let's Get Started

Now that you have completed the needed steps to complete this course, let's get started by getting an [introduction to Generative AI and LLMs](../01-introduction-to-genai/README.md?WT.mc_id=academic-105485-koreyst).
