## Create a Basic Flask Development Environment

This tutorial walks you through setting up the tools you need to begin developing in Python and Flask. *Note:* I assume you are on a Unix environment (OSX, Linux, Linux VM on Windows).

### What you need

- Python 2.7.x
- easy_install and pip
- Git 1.7/1.8
- virtualenv
- Flask
- Text editor (Sublime, vim, Komodo, gedit)

### Python

1. Check your Python version - `python -V`
2. If you already have a 2.7.x version, move on to the next step.
3. If not, download and install the latest 2.7.x [version](http://python.org/download/)

### Git

1. Check your Git version - `git --version`
2. Download the latest [version](http://git-scm.com/download), if necessary

### easy_install and pip

1. Download setuptools for Python 2.7

        $ curl -o setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg https://pypi.python.org/packages/2.7/s/setuptools/setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg#md5=fe1f997bc722265116870bc7919059ea

2. Install setup tools

        $ sudo sh setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg

3. Clean up and delete egg
    
        $ rm setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg

4. Install pip

        $ sudo easy_install pip

### virtualenv

virtualenv is used to create a self-contained development environment.

1. Install 

        $ sudo pip install virtualenv

2. Setup your local environment

        $ mkdir new_project
        $ cd new_project
        $ virtualenv --no-site-packages flask
        
3. Activate virtualenv

        $ cd flask
        $ source bin/activate

### Flask

1. Install

        pip install Flask
        
### Version Control

1. Add a Git repository

        $ git init
 
### Text editor

1. Download a text editor. I prefer Sublime.

### Quick Application

1. Create a new file named *hello.py* and add the following code:

        from flask import Flask
        app = Flask(__name__)

        @app.route('/')
        def hello_world():
            return 'Hello World!'

        if __name__ == '__main__':
            app.run()
            
    Save the file to your "flask" directory.
    
2. Run the file with your Python interpreter

        $ python hello.py
        
3. Point your browser at [http://localhost:5000](http://localhost:5000) to view the hello world greeting. 

#### Congrats! Flask has taken the *main* stage. Cheers.