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Spreadsheets & Data

Introduction In Module 3, we act as Data Analysts. AI is incredibly smart, but it struggles with "messy" Excel files that have merged cells and colors. We need to feed it clean, raw text. The standard format for this is .CSV (Comma Separated Values). _____________________________________________________________________ Option A: Using Google Sheets (Free & Recommended) Go to sheets.google.com and log in. Open a Blank sheet. Type some dummy data to test (Row 1: Name, Role. Row 2: Thabo, Manager). To Export for AI: Click File (Top left). Hover over Download. Select Comma Separated Values (.csv). The file will download to your computer. This is the file you will upload to ChatGPT. ____________________________________________________________________ Option B: Using Microsoft Excel Open Excel on your desktop. Ensure your data is "Flat" (No merged cells, no fancy formatting, just rows and columns). To Export: Click File > Save As. In the file format dropdown menu, scroll down and select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv). Warning: Do not choose "CSV Macintosh" or "CSV MS-DOS" unless you are on those specific systems. Standard CSV is best. Click Save.    

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Setting Up

Introduction In Module 5, we stop doing things manually. We need a "Connector" to glue your apps together. We will use Zapier because it is user-friendly and has a generous free tier. ____________________________________________________________________________ Step 1: Sign Up for Free Go to zapier.com. Click "Sign Up". Use your Google or Microsoft account to log in quickly. Zapier will ask you what apps you use (e.g., Slack, Gmail, Excel). You can skip this or select your favorites to get suggestions. ___________________________________________________________________________ Step 2: Understanding the Dashboard Once logged in, you will see a bright orange button: "Create Zap". Zap: This is what Zapier calls an automation workflow. Trigger: The "When" (e.g., When I get an email). Action: The "Do" (e.g., Send me a WhatsApp). __________________________________________________________________________ Step 3: Connect Your First App To prepare for the course, let's connect your email. Click "Apps" in the left-hand menu. Click "Add Connection". Search for "Gmail" or "Outlook". A pop-up window will ask you to log in to your email account and grant permission. Click Allow. You generally do not need to pay for a premium plan for this course; the "Free" plan allows for 100 tasks/month, which is enough for our exercises. _______________________________________________________________________ Step 4: Testing the Connection Go back to the Dashboard. Type a simple sentence in the AI bar: "When I receive a new email in Gmail, send me a Slack message." Zapier's AI will draft the workflow for you. If it loads the draft, your setup is complete!    

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Artificial Intelligence

Introduction To complete this course and build Custom Agents, you need access to the advanced features of ChatGPT (or Claude). While the free version is great for chatting, it lacks the "engine" required for data analysis and file uploads. Here is how to get set up in minutes. __________________________________________________________________________________ Step 1: Create Your Account Navigate to chatgpt.com in your web browser. Click Sign Up. Enter your email address or choose "Continue with Google/Microsoft" (Recommended for easier login). You will need to verify your phone number. Enter your South African mobile number (+27). You will receive an OTP via SMS. _________________________________________________________________________________ Step 2: Upgrade to Plus (The Business Essential) Why upgrade? You need the "GPT Builder" and "Data Analysis" features for Module 3 and 5. Log in to your account. In the bottom left or top left corner, click on "Upgrade Plan". Select "Plus" (Personal). Cost: The price is USD $20/month. Depending on the exchange rate, this will deduct approximately R360 – R400 from your account. Enter your card details (Visa/Mastercard work perfectly in SA). Tip: If you are doing this for work, save the invoice—it is often a tax-deductible software expense! ______________________________________________________________________________________ Step 3: Configure Privacy Settings (POPIA Compliance) Before you type a single word, secure your data. Click on your Profile Icon (Bottom left/Top right). Select Settings. Go to Data Controls. Look for "Improve the model for everyone" (or "Chat History & Training"). Toggle this OFF if you do not want your chats used to train OpenAI’s future models. Note: In some versions, turning this off disables history. If you need history, consider an Enterprise license later. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Step 4: Verify "Advanced Data Analysis" Start a new chat. Look for the Paperclip Icon in the text box. If you can see the option to "Upload from Computer," you are ready for Module 3!  

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Setting Up

isual Studio Code (VS Code) is currently the most popular code editor in the world. It is free, lightweight, and created by Microsoft. Unlike the massive "Visual Studio" IDE, VS Code is a streamlined text editor that you can customize with "extensions" to do almost anything, from web development to Python coding. Follow this guide to get it running on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer. Step 1: Download Visual Studio Code Open your web browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox, etc.). Navigate to the official website: code.visualstudio.com On the homepage, you will see a large blue button that says "Download for Windows" Note: The website automatically detects your operating system. It will typically download the "User Installer" version, which is recommended for most users. Click the button. The download (VSCodeUserSetup-x64...exe) will start automatically. Save it to your Downloads folder. Step 2: Install the Application Go to your Downloads folder and double-click the installer file you just downloaded. License Agreement: A window will pop up. Select "I accept the agreement" and click Next. Select Destination Location: It will ask where to install the program usually ```C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code``` Action: Leave this as the default and click Next. Select Start Menu Folder: Click Next (Default is fine). Select Additional Tasks (IMPORTANT): This is the most critical step. You will see several checkboxes. I highly recommend you check ALL of them: Create a desktop icon (Optional, but useful). Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer file context menu (Allows you to right-click a file and open it in VS Code immediately).   Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer directory context menu (Allows you to right-click a folder to open it as a project).   Register Code as an editor for supported file types.   Add to PATH (requires shell restart) (Crucial for running VS Code from the command line). Click Next. Ready to Install: Click Install. Finish: Once the progress bar completes, ensure "Launch Visual Studio Code" is checked and click Finish. Step 3: Initial Setup & The "Get Started" Wizard When VS Code opens for the first time, you will see a "Get Started" tab. This wizard helps you configure the look and feel. Choose a Theme: You will see options like "Dark Modern," "Light Modern," "High Contrast," etc. Recommendation: Most developers prefer Dark Modern to reduce eye strain. Click the one you like. Sync Settings (Optional): You may see an option to "Turn on Settings Sync." This allows you to sign in with a GitHub or Microsoft account so your settings follow you to other computers. You can click "Mark Done" to skip this for now if you prefer. Workspace Trust: As you open files later, you might see a shield icon or a pop-up asking if you "Trust the authors of this folder." Rule of Thumb: If you created the folder or downloaded it from a safe source, click Yes, I trust the authors. This enables all features (like auto-complete) for that project. Step 4: Install Essential Extensions VS Code is a "bare-bones" editor out of the box. You make it powerful by installing Extensions. Look at the Activity Bar on the far left side of the screen (a narrow strip of icons). Click the icon that looks like four squares/blocks (or press Ctrl + Shift + X). This is the Extensions Marketplace. Here are the top 3 extensions recommended for almost all beginners: Prettier - Code formatter: Search for: "Prettier" Click: Install What it does: automatically fixes your spacing and indentation every time you save your file, making your code look professional. Material Icon Theme: Search for: "Material Icon" Click: Install What it does: Changes the boring default file icons to colorful, recognizable icons (e.g., a blue "C" for CSS files, a yellow "JS" for JavaScript). Live Server (For Web Developers): Search for: "Live Server" (by Ritwick Dey) Click: Install What it does: Allows you to right-click an HTML file and select "Open with Live Server" to see your website in a browser that updates automatically as you type. Step 5: Create Your First Project Let's test if everything is working correctly by creating a simple HTML file. Create a Folder: Minimize VS Code. On your Desktop, right-click and create a new folder named MyFirstCode. Open in VS Code: Right-click that new folder. Because you checked the boxes in Step 2, you should see an option "Open with Code". Click it. (Alternatively, inside VS Code, go to File > Open Folder and select it). Create a File: On the left sidebar (the "Explorer"), hover over the name of your folder. Click the "New File" icon (a page with a plus sign). Name the file index.html and press Enter. Write Code: Type ! (an exclamation mark) and press Enter. VS Code will automatically generate a basic HTML skeleton. Inside the <body> tags, type: <h1>Hello World</h1>. Run It:   If you installed Live Server (from Step 4): Right-click anywhere in your code and choose "Open with Live Server". Your web browser will pop up displaying your "Hello World" text.     Congratulations! You have successfully installed and set up Visual Studio Code on Windows.

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PHP Development

This guide covers installing the latest version of XAMPP on macOS (specifically tested for macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and earlier versions). Step 1: Download XAMPP for macOS Open your web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.). Go to the official Apache Friends website: https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html Scroll down to the XAMPP for OS X section. You will likely see two types of downloads: VM Version: Runs XAMPP in a virtual machine (often confusing for beginners). Installer (Recommended): Runs natively on your Mac. Tip: Look for the version that does not say "VM" in the filename if available, as the native version is easier to manage. However, recently, the "VM" version has become the standard for newer macOS versions due to security architecture. Click Download (64-bit) on the latest version (e.g., PHP 8.2.x or higher). Step 2: Install the Application Open your Downloads folder and double-click the .dmg file you just downloaded (e.g., xampp-osx-8.2.x-installer.dmg). A window will open showing the XAMPP icon. If it is the Native Installer: Double-click the XAMPP installer icon. If it is the VM Version: Drag the XAMPP icon into your Applications folder. Security Warning: You will likely see a pop-up saying "XAMPP cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified" or "Downloaded from the internet." Click Cancel. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences) > Privacy & Security. Scroll to the bottom. You should see a message about XAMPP being blocked. Click Open Anyway. Enter your Mac password when prompted.   Step 3: Initial Setup & Launch Go to your Applications folder. Find the XAMPP folder (or the XAMPP icon if you installed the VM version). Double-click to open the application. Note: It might be named "manager-osx" inside the XAMPP folder. You will see the XAMPP Control Panel.   Step 4: Starting the Servers To run a website locally, you need to turn on the "services." In the XAMPP Control Panel, click the Manage Servers tab. You will see three main services: Apache Web Server (Required for websites) MySQL Database (Required for databases) ProFTPD (Usually not needed for local setups) Select Apache Web Server and click Start. Wait for the status light to turn Green. Select MySQL Database and click Start. Wait for the status light to turn Green. If the lights turn green, your server is running successfully!   Step 5: Verify the Installation Open your web browser. Type http://localhost in the address bar and press Enter. You should see the "Welcome to XAMPP" dashboard. This confirms that the software is installed and running correctly. Step 6: Setting Up Your Project Files On Windows, files go into C:\xampp\htdocs. On macOS, the location depends on which version you installed: Option A: Standard (Native) Installation Open Finder. Go to Applications > XAMPP > htdocs. This is your web folder. Create a new folder here (e.g., mywebsite) and place your .php or .html files inside it. Access it via: http://localhost/mywebsite/ Option B: VM Installation (Common on M1/M2/M3 Macs) If you are using the "VM" version, you cannot access the files directly through your normal Finder Applications folder effortlessly. You must "Mount" the drive first. Open the XAMPP Control Panel. Go to the Volumes tab. Click the Mount button. Once mounted, click Explore. A Finder window will pop up showing the internal Linux files. Open the folder named htdocs. Place your project folder (e.g., mywebsite) inside this htdocs folder. Access it via: http://localhost:8080/mywebsite (Note: VM versions sometimes require port 8080). ________________________________________________________________ Troubleshooting Common macOS Issues 1. "Apache" will not start (Port 80 Error) macOS often uses Port 80 for built-in file sharing or developer tools. Fix: In the XAMPP Control Panel, select Apache > Configure. Change the port from 80 to 8080. You will then access your sites via http://localhost:8080. 2. MySQL keeps stopping This is common on M1/M2/M3 Macs if you downloaded an older Intel-only version of XAMPP. Fix: Ensure you downloaded the latest version from the website, which often includes architecture fixes. If it persists, restart your computer and try starting MySQL before Apache. 3. Permissions Error (403 Forbidden) If you see "Access Forbidden" when trying to view your site: Open the terminal inside the XAMPP folder and run a command to reset permissions (advanced), OR simply ensure your folder names in htdocs do not have spaces or special characters.  

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PHP Development

How to Install and Set Up XAMPP on Windows: A Complete Guide XAMPP is a free, open-source software stack that provides an easy way for web designers and developers to install the necessary components to run PHP-based software (like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla) on their own local computer. The acronym stands for: X: Cross-platform A: Apache (The web server) M: MariaDB/MySQL (The database) P: PHP (The scripting language) P: Perl (A programming language) By installing XAMPP, you turn your personal computer into a local server, allowing you to build and test websites offline before publishing them to the internet. Step 1: Download XAMPP Open your web browser and navigate to the official Apache Friends website: https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html. On the homepage, you will see a download section for different operating systems. Click on XAMPP for Windows. Note: Usually, there are multiple versions available based on the PHP version (e.g., PHP 8.0, 8.1, 8.2). If you are unsure which one to pick, download the version with the highest version number (the latest one). The download will start automatically. Save the .exe file to your computer. Step 2: Run the Installer Navigate to your download folder and double-click the installer file (e.g., xampp-windows-x64...installer.exe). User Account Control (UAC): Windows may ask if you want to allow the app to make changes to your device. Click Yes. Important Warning: You might see a pop-up warning you about "User Account Control (UAC)" on your system. It typically says that installing XAMPP to C:\Program Files might cause permission issues. Do not worry. Simply click OK. We will install it in the default folder (C:\xampp) to avoid these issues. Step 3: Installation Wizard Welcome Screen: Click Next. Select Components: You will see a list of tools to install. By default, all options are checked. Required: You definitely need Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin. Optional: You can uncheck FileZilla FTP Server, Mercury Mail Server, and Tomcat if you are just doing basic web development, but leaving them checked causes no harm. Click Next. Installation Folder: The installer will ask where to install XAMPP. Default: C:\xampp Recommendation: Keep the default. Do not change this to "Program Files" to avoid permission headaches later. Click Next. Language: Select your preferred language (English or German) and click Next. Bitnami: You may see a screen about "Bitnami for XAMPP." You can uncheck the "Learn more about Bitnami" box and click Next. Ready to Install: Click Next to begin the installation. This process may take a few minutes as it unpacks and installs the files. Completing Installation: Once finished, leave the box checked that says "Do you want to start the Control Panel now?" and click Finish. Step 4: Using the XAMPP Control Panel The Control Panel is the command center where you turn your server on and off. When the Control Panel opens, you will see a list of modules (Apache, MySQL, FileZilla, etc.). To run a website, you typically need two modules running: Apache: This is the web server that displays your files. MySQL: This manages your databases. Click the Start button next to Apache. Windows Firewall Prompt: If Windows Firewall pops up, click Allow Access. Click the Start button next to MySQL. Windows Firewall Prompt: Click Allow Access here as well. Success: You will know they are working when the module names turn Green background. Step 5: Verify the Installation Let's make sure everything is working correctly. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.). In the address bar, type: http://localhost and press Enter. You should be taken to the Welcome to XAMPP dashboard. If you see this page, your web server is running successfully! Step 6: How to Create Your First Project Now that the server is running, where do you put your files? Open File Explorer and go to your installation folder (usually C:\xampp). Find the folder named htdocs. This is your "web" folder. Everything you put inside htdocs will be visible in your browser. Create a new folder inside htdocs for your project, for example: mywebsite. Create a test file: Open Notepad. Type the following code: ```<?phpecho "Hello! XAMPP is working.";?>``` Save the file inside the C:\xampp\htdocs\mywebsite folder. Name the file index.php (Make sure "Save as type" is set to All Files). View it in your browser: Go to http://localhost/mywebsite. You should see the text: "Hello! XAMPP is working."

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Course Navigation

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Assignments & Grading

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