Hi there!
Update: While I was working on the second part of the guide, the steem-python libaries got updated and now need Python in version 3.6 which means migrating to new version of Ubuntu 17. I've updated the part 1 of the guide to cover the changes and part 2 needs only few last touches - should be released tomorrow :)
If you would like to make your own steemit bot or for example an application that plays a ding! sound every time someone gives you an upvote - this guide is for you!
Welcome to series of newbie friendly tutorials that will show you how to create your own, simple application that interacts with steemit blockchain.
In the Part 1 we're gonna build our workshop - our safe environment to experiment and test our steemit apps. Don't worry - you won't mess up your Windows, we're gonna create virtual machine so even if something goes wrong - it won't affect your PC in any way :)
Virtual Machine
If you like to keep your operating system, for example Windows, fast and clean - you probably don't want to install to many additional applications and libraries and other this sort of stuff needed to code programs. That's why the best option to do it is to create a new, virtual system. You launch it just like any other application so you don't have to reboot your PC.
Think about your main OS as your clean, tidy house - and virtual system as this one room where you keep all the unneeded stuff. It can be messy but it's not a problem because it's sealed off from the rest of the house so even if it's infested with bugs - your home is safe. That's pretty much why we're gonna use virtual system :)
We'll use Ubuntu distribution of Linux - it has desktop, it has icons so don't worry, it's not some hackers-only system where you can't do anything unless you spent last 20 years in your basement hacking Pentagon. Let's go!
Installing Linux as Virtual System
1. Go to: https://www.vmware.com/products/player/playerpro-evaluation.html and download the VMmare Player
Here's the latest version direct download link:
https://www.vmware.com/go/tryplayerpro-win-64
This is the "player" for virtual system - we will use it to launch the virtual Linux.
Install the downloaded VMmare Player.
2. Go to https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and download Ubuntu 17.10 iso file
Here's the latest version direct download link:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/17.10/ubuntu-17.10-desktop-amd64.iso
Save the iso file in a folder where you can find it later.
3. Start VMmare Player and click Create a New Virtual Machine (on the right menu)
4. Select Installer disc image file (iso) and click Browse
5. Go to the folder where you have saved the Ubuntu 17.10 iso file and select it
This is how it should look like:
6. Click next and enter the User name and Password. Click Next
7. Enter Virtual Machine name and choose in which folder it will be saved. Try to avoid spaces in Machine name
8. Set the virtual disk size (anything above 10 GB will do the job) and click Next
9. Here you select how many CPU cores and RAM you will give to the virtual machine.
We won't be doing any complicated computations so basic values will do the job. You can change those later on so don't be afraid to experiment :) Click Finish
10. Now the Installation process will take place. Be patient!
11. After the installation is complete, you should be able to log in - use the password entered in step 7
12. It's alive!
Click on the firefox icon on the left and check if the internet is working. If yes - congratulations! You have successfully installed virtual machine and by this completed this tutorial :)
Tip: remember that you can resize the Virtual Machine window to make it bigger.
