1
of 5— Install VS Code and Python
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll be able to write Python analytics code for supply chain tasks — ABC inventory analysis, safety stock calculations, demand forecast models — using GitHub Copilot to generate and explain the code, even if you're not a programmer. You'll get real analytical work done without knowing Python fluently.
What you'll need
- Python installed on your computer (Python 3.9+) — free from python.org
- VS Code (free code editor) — free from code.visualstudio.com
- GitHub Copilot subscription ($10/month individual) — sign up at github.com/copilot
- A CSV file with your supply chain data (inventory data, demand history, or purchase orders)
- Time needed: 45 minutes to set up; 30-60 minutes per analytics script after that
- Cost: $10/month (GitHub Copilot)
How-To Guide: Use GitHub Copilot to Write Supply Chain Analytics in Python
Step 1: Install VS Code and Python
- Download and install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
- Install Python from python.org (choose "Add to PATH" during installation)
- In VS Code, open the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X) and search for "Python" — install the Microsoft Python extension