Difficulties running Python from Git Bash

[alexlyttle]

Some users will have installed Python via Miniforge on university managed devices using AppsAnywhere. The Miniforge installer by default does not add Conda/Python to the system PATH. Doing this manually appears to require admin privileges, which many users won't have. The Miniforge Prompt uses cmd or powershell, but the course requires bash. After installing Git Bash (via Git for Windows), users may not be able to initialise Conda as it is not on the PATH. We should be aware of this as Miniforge is a common way users have previously interacted with Python on their machine.

Potential solutions

• Create a .bashrc and update the PATH variable with the path to Miniforge on their system.
• Install Python separately using the Microsoft Store, this appears to work on university managed devices
  • Entering python3 or python3.exe into Git Bash should open the Microsoft Store with a link to install the latest Python
  • Install the latest Python
  • Restart Git Bash
  • Use python3 --version to verify it is installed

We should make the setup instructions clearer for university managed devices.