Once your programs grow past a few lines, you'll want a proper code editor instead of a plain text editor. We recommend VS Code — it's free, runs on every platform, and is what many professionals use.

What an editor like VS Code gives you:

• Colour highlighting so code is easier to read.
• Error hints as you type, before you even run.
• A built-in terminal to run your programs without leaving the window.
• Extensions, including a Python one that adds smart help.

You don't need it for this course (the Run boxes are enough), but it's the natural next step for building your own projects.