Update Python environment setup instructions and configuration

Author: anotherRedbeard

.vscode/settings.json

@@ -18,5 +18,6 @@
     },
     "plantuml.java": "C:\\Program Files\\OpenJDK\\jdk-22.0.2\\bin\\java.exe",
     "plantuml.diagramsRoot": "diagrams/src",
-    "plantuml.exportOutDir": "diagrams/out"
+    "plantuml.exportOutDir": "diagrams/out",
+    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "./venv/bin/python"
 }

README.md

@@ -34,13 +34,14 @@ These prerequisites apply broadly across all infrastructure and samples. If ther
 Run through the following steps to create a Python virtual environment before doing anything else:
 
 1. Open VS Code.
-1. Invoke the _Command Palette_ via the _View_ menu or a shortcut (on Windows: Ctrl + Shift + P).
+1. Invoke the _Command Palette_ via the _View_ menu or a shortcut (on Windows: Ctrl + Shift + P, on Mac: CMD + Shift + P).
 1. Select _Python: Create Environment_.
 1. Select _Venv_ as we want a local virtual environment.
 1. Select the desired, installed Python version.
 1. Check _requirements.txt_ to install the Python dependencies we need for this repo, then press _OK_. The install may take a few minutes. You can check on progress in the _OUTPUT_ window.
 1. Verify the virtual environment is set up. You should see a new _.venv_ directory with a _pyveng.cfg_ file and the Python version you selected earlier.
 1. Setup project environment: Run `python setup/setup_python_path.py --generate-env` to configure the Python path.
+  a. If for some reason the `python` command is not found, please try adding your virtual environment's `bin` or `Scripts` directory to your system's PATH variable.  An example command to do this for a virtual environment named `venv` would be to run `source .venv/bin/activate`
 
 The first time you run a Jupyter notebook, you'll be asked to install the Jupyter kernel package (ipykernel).
 

setup/README.md

@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@ Configures cross-platform PYTHONPATH for APIM Samples.
 python setup/setup_python_path.py --generate-env
 ```
 
-This script auto-detects the project root and generates a `.env` file that VS Code uses for Python path configuration.
+This script auto-detects the project root and generates a `.env` file that VS Code uses for Python path configuration. If for some reason the `python` command is not found, please try adding your virtual environment's `bin` or `Scripts` directory to your system's PATH variable.  An example command to do this for a virtual environment named `venv` is:
+
+```shell
+source .venv/bin/activate
+```