---

Project Setup and Testing

This guide will help you set up a virtual environment, install dependencies, and run tests using pytest.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+ (Python 3.10 or later is recommended)
• pip (typically included with Python)

---

Creating a Virtual Environment

On Linux / macOS

1. Open your terminal.

2. Create a virtual environment:

   python3 -m venv venv

3. Activate the virtual environment:

   source venv/bin/activate

4. Install the required packages:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

5. Run tests using pytest:

   pytest <path to the test script>

On Windows

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.

2. Create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv venv

3. Activate the virtual environment:

   • Command Prompt:

     venv\Scripts\activate

   • PowerShell:

     .\venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

4. Install the required packages:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

5. Run tests using pytest:

   pytest <path to the test script>

---

Notes

• Deactivating the Virtual Environment:
  When you are done, you can deactivate the environment by simply running:

  deactivate

• Troubleshooting:
  If you encounter issues with running pytest, ensure it is included in your requirements.txt or install it manually:

  pip install pytest

With these steps, you should have your environment set up for development and testing.

---