For this lab, you’ll need an Ubuntu VM. In my case, I have a putty ssh session for this VM. (It tends to be easier to copy and paste if you do it like that, but it isn’t necessary.)

One of the top skills you’ll need in this class is the ability to:

• Use variables when writing script/code.
• Use branching statements (If statements)
• Use Iterative statements (For loops/while loops)
• Use Methods and functions to organize your code so that logic is reusable.

The first part of this class will focus on coding proficiency and coding challenges. I would say two things are true:

• If you are flexible and creative in your ability to write code, this class will be fun and very relevant.
• If writing code at a basic level is a challenge, you’ll encounter that struggle more often than you would like. (Make it a priority to work on this skill!)

Here’s something I think all programmers will agree with:

• Once you write code that works well, you might want to locate your solution 5-10 years from now. You’ll be stuck re-inventing the wheel if you can't find it.
• It’s never considered cheating if the person you are cheating off is you.

A personal GitHub account is one option to ensure you can save your code and have access to it long into the future. In my case (Mr. Beck), I often look back at the code I wrote over ten years ago to solve day-to-day coding challenges. I hate having to work out the answer to a problem I solved once upon a time. GitHub helps me avoid having to do that.

Set up a GitHub account.

Go to GitHub and sign up for an account:

<https://github.com>

In this lab, we will:

• Write an elementary program
• Learn to work with Git and GitHub