Technology Stack

Development Environment

VS Code is our primary editor — lightweight, extensible, and works seamlessly with AI assistants. We'll also use Google Antigravity IDE, a VS Code-based environment with integrated agentic AI capabilities.

AI Coding Assistants

GitHub Copilot is our primary AI pair programmer (free for students via the GitHub Education pack). We'll also explore Continue.dev, an open-source alternative that works with local and open-source models.

In Module 3, we go deeper — learning to work directly with LLM APIs, use local models, and build tool-using agents.

Python & Cloud-Native Data

Python is our primary language. We emphasize cloud-native workflows that scale beyond your laptop's memory:

• Databases: Query large datasets without loading them into RAM
• Cloud-optimized formats: Parquet, GeoParquet, and cloud-native geospatial data
• Web apps: Build and deploy interactive dashboards

Geospatial & Environmental Data

Module 2 focuses on spatial analysis and environmental justice mapping. We work with:

• Vector data: Points, polygons, census boundaries
• Raster data: Satellite imagery, species richness layers
• Interactive maps: Web-based visualization with MapLibre

LLMs & Agentic AI

Module 3 covers programmatic LLM use — moving beyond the chat interface:

• LLM APIs: OpenRouter, open-source models, structured outputs
• Document intelligence: Extract structured data from PDFs and reports
• Tool use: Build agents that can query databases and call functions

Collaboration & Version Control

GitHub is where all coursework lives. You'll use GitHub Classroom for assignments, learn version control basics, and build a portfolio of climate tech projects.

What You'll Need

• Laptop with a modern web browser
• Power cable — sessions run 2 hours
• Internet connection — for cloud-based tools

No prior programming experience required. We'll set up everything together in Session 1.