Originally published at MAK Studio. Full series with all guides: How-To Guides Index
When I started learning to code, the tutorials all began the same way:
"Open your code editor and type..."
But nobody told me how to install a code editor. Or configure it. Or what a terminal even was.
I got tired of watching others struggle with the same gap, so I built a complete setup series. It goes from "I've never coded" to "my website is live on the internet" — in 9 guides.
Here's the map.
The Setup Journey
1. Install VS Code
The most popular free code editor. Covers Windows, Mac, and Linux. Includes the 3 extensions every beginner needs.
2. Install Python
The one checkbox most beginners miss ("Add Python to PATH") and how to fix it. Includes virtual environment setup.
3. Install Node.js
For JavaScript outside the browser. Includes nvm for version management and the 4 npm commands you'll use daily.
4. Install Git
Version control from scratch. Ends with your first commit.
5. Command Line Basics
Terminal for beginners. A cheat sheet comparing Mac/Linux vs Windows commands.
6. Install Pytube
A bonus guide that teaches Python packages through a real project (downloading videos).
7. Run Your First HTML File
The moment code becomes real — see your first page in a browser in 2 minutes.
8. Write Your First HTML Page
Full walkthrough of HTML structure, tags, and semantics.
9. Publish a Website for Free
The capstone. GitHub Pages from zero to live URL — with custom domain setup.
Why This Series
Most setups assume you've already set up. This one doesn't.
Every guide:
- Covers Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Includes a troubleshooting section for common errors
- Links to the next logical step
- Has no signup, no ads, no paywall
What I Learned Building This
1. The gap is real. "How to install Python" gets 100K+ searches/month. People want this content.
2. Cross-platform matters. Most guides pick one OS. Covering all three nearly doubles your audience.
3. Error sections are the hook. "Python is not recognized as an internal command" is a specific search query with a specific solution. That's where traffic lives.
4. Interconnect everything. Each guide links to 2–3 others. This creates a "topic cluster" that Google rewards.
5. Structure data matters. Every page uses HowTo schema, so Google can show the steps directly in search results.
Try It
The full index is here: All How-To Guides
If you're learning to code — or know someone who is — this is the resource I wish I'd had when I started.
What's the ONE setup step you found most confusing as a beginner? Curious what to add next.
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