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Prerequisites

Before starting with the Nummernsender project, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place.

Software Requirements

Required

  • Python 3.12 or later 

    python --version
# Should show 3.12.x or higher

  • Package Manager

  • uv (recommended) or pip 

    # Check if uv is installed
uv --version

  • Web Browser

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest version)

Optional (for Pico Development)

  • Thonny IDE
  • Required for Raspberry Pi Pico programming

  • Installation Guide

  • Git

  • For version control 
    git --version

Hardware Requirements

For Web Development Only

  • Computer with:
  • macOS, Windows, or Linux
  • Minimum 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 1GB free disk space
  • Internet connection

For IoT Development (Raspberry Pi Pico)

  • Raspberry Pi Pico W
  • WiFi-enabled version required for wireless examples

  • Regular Pico works for basic LED examples only

  • Micro USB Cable

  • Must be a data cable (not charge-only)

  • For programming and power

  • WiFi Network

  • 2.4 GHz network (Pico W doesn't support 5 GHz)
  • Network credentials (SSID and password)

Knowledge Prerequisites

  • Python Programming
  • Variables, functions, loops
  • Basic data types (lists, dictionaries)

  • Import statements

  • Command Line

  • Navigate directories (cd, ls/dir)
  • Run Python scripts

  • Basic file operations

  • HTML/CSS

  • Basic HTML structure
  • CSS selectors
  • Understanding of web pages

Nice to Have

  • JavaScript basics
  • HTTP/REST API concepts
  • Git version control
  • Virtual environments in Python

Checking Your System

Python Installation

# Check Python version
python --version
# or
python3 --version

# Check pip
pip --version
# or
pip3 --version

macOS/Linux: 

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Windows: 

powershell -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

Verify Installation

# Create test virtual environment
uv venv test-env
source test-env/bin/activate  # macOS/Linux
# or test-env\Scripts\activate  # Windows

# Test Flask installation
uv add flask
python -c "import flask; print(f'Flask {flask.__version__} works!')"

# Clean up
deactivate
rm -rf test-env

Network Requirements

For Web Development

  • Internet access for:
  • Downloading dependencies
  • Accessing documentation
  • Testing external APIs (optional)

For Pico Development

  • Local Network
  • Computer and Pico W on same network
  • Router access for troubleshooting

  • Ability to determine local IP addresses

  • WiFi Requirements

  • 2.4 GHz frequency band
  • WPA2-Personal security (most common)
  • No enterprise authentication
  • No captive portal

Development Environment

Text Editor/IDE

Choose one:

  • VS Code (Recommended for web development)
  • Python extension
  • Syntax highlighting

  • Integrated terminal

  • PyCharm (Full-featured IDE)

  • Community or Professional edition

  • Built-in Python support

  • Thonny (For Pico development)

  • Simple, beginner-friendly
  • Built-in Pico support

  • Installation Guide

  • Any text editor

  • Sublime Text, Atom, Vim, etc.
  • As long as you can edit Python files

Terminal/Command Prompt

  • macOS: Terminal (built-in)
  • Windows: Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal
  • Linux: Any terminal emulator

Optional Tools

Development

  • Postman or Insomnia
  • For testing API endpoints

  • Not required (can use curl or browser)

  • Browser DevTools

  • Built into all modern browsers
  • Press F12 to open

Version Control

  • Git
  • Track changes
  • Collaborate with others
  • Optional but recommended

Documentation

  • MkDocs (included in project dependencies)
  • For viewing documentation locally
  • Installed via uv add mkdocs mkdocs-material

Troubleshooting Prerequisites

Can't Install Python

  • Windows: Download from python.org
  • macOS: Use Homebrew: brew install python@3.12
  • Linux: Use package manager: sudo apt install python3.12

Permission Errors

  • Don't use sudo with pip/uv
  • Use virtual environments
  • Check user permissions

USB/Serial Issues (Pico)

  • Linux: Add user to dialout group 
    sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
  • macOS: Check system preferences → Security
  • Windows: Install drivers from Raspberry Pi

Ready to Start?

Once you have:

  • ✅ Python 3.12+ installed
  • ✅ uv or pip available
  • ✅ Text editor ready
  • ✅ Terminal/command prompt accessible
  • ✅ (Optional) Raspberry Pi Pico W and USB cable

You're ready to proceed to the Quick Start Guide!

Need Help?