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Installation Guide

This guide provides detailed instructions for installing and configuring VSCode Typing Simulator on your system.

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System Requirements

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Operating System

  • Windows 10/11
  • macOS 10.14 or later
  • Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 35+, or equivalent)

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Software Requirements

Python

Version 3.9 or higherRequired for running the application

pip

Latest version recommendedPython package installer (usually included with Python)

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Hardware Requirements

  • RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB recommended)
  • Storage: At least 500MB free space
  • Display: Any resolution (output is fixed at 1280x720)

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Installation Steps

1

Verify Python Installation

Check that Python 3.9+ is installed:
python3 --version
You should see output like Python 3.9.0 or higher.
If Python is not installed, download it from python.org before continuing.
2

Download the Project

Clone the repository or download the source code:
git clone <repository-url>
cd vscode-typing-simulator
Or download and extract the ZIP file from the repository.
3

Create a Virtual Environment

Creating a virtual environment isolates the project dependencies from your system Python:
python3 -m venv env
A virtual environment is strongly recommended to avoid conflicts with other Python projects.
4

Activate the Virtual Environment

source env/bin/activate
You should see (env) appear at the beginning of your terminal prompt.
5

Install Dependencies

Install all required Python packages using pip:
pip install -r requirements.txt
This installs:
  • opencv-python 4.8.0 - Computer vision library for video processing
  • numpy 1.24.0 - Numerical computing library for array operations
  • pygame 2.5.0 - Graphics library for rendering the VSCode interface
The installation may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection.
6

Verify Installation

Verify all dependencies are correctly installed:
pip list
You should see the following packages (among others):
opencv-python    4.8.0
numpy           1.24.0
pygame          2.5.0
7

Verify Media Assets

Ensure the required media files are present in the media/ directory:
  • media/CascadiaCode.ttf - Cascadia Code font
  • media/windows-xp-wallpaper.jpeg - Windows XP background image
The application will fall back to system fonts and solid colors if these assets are missing, but the visual quality will be reduced.

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Verifying Your Installation

Test that everything is working correctly: 
python capture.py
You should see the interactive prompts. Press Ctrl+C to exit without creating a video.
Create a simple test file to verify the complete workflow. See the Quickstart Guide for a step-by-step example.

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Project Structure

After installation, your project directory should look like this: 
vscode-typing-simulator/
├── capture.py              # Main video capture script
├── vscode_mockup.py        # VSCode interface renderer
├── requirements.txt        # Python dependencies
├── media/                  # Asset directory
│   ├── CascadiaCode.ttf           # Cascadia Code font
│   └── windows-xp-wallpaper.jpeg  # Background image
├── env/                    # Virtual environment (after setup)
└── *.avi                   # Generated videos (after running)

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

Problem: OpenCV is not installed correctly.Solution:
pip uninstall opencv-python
pip install opencv-python==4.8.0
Problem: Pygame cannot initialize the display (common on headless servers).Solution: Ensure you’re running on a system with a display. For headless environments, you may need to configure a virtual display using Xvfb:
# Linux only
sudo apt-get install xvfb
xvfb-run python capture.py
Problem: OpenCV cannot create the video writer, possibly due to missing codecs.Solution: Install system video codecs:
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-extra
Problem: Font file is missing or corrupt.Solution: The application will automatically fall back to Consolas or another monospace font. To use Cascadia Code:
  1. Download from Microsoft’s repository
  2. Extract CascadiaCode.ttf
  3. Place in the media/ directory
Problem: Windows XP wallpaper is missing.Solution: The application will use a solid color background. To restore the XP wallpaper:
  1. Obtain the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper
  2. Save as windows-xp-wallpaper.jpeg in the media/ directory
Problem: The source file path is incorrect.Solution:
  • Ensure the Python file exists in the current directory
  • Use the full filename including the .py extension
  • Or provide an absolute path to the file

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Dependency Version Issues

If you encounter compatibility issues with the specified versions, you can try installing compatible ranges: 
pip install opencv-python>=4.8.0,<5.0.0
pip install numpy>=1.24.0,<2.0.0
pip install pygame>=2.5.0,<3.0.0
Using different versions may cause unexpected behavior. The specified versions in requirements.txt have been tested together.

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Uninstallation

To remove VSCode Typing Simulator:
1

Deactivate the virtual environment

deactivate
2

Delete the project directory

Remove the entire project folder including the virtual environment:
rm -rf vscode-typing-simulator/

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Next Steps

Quickstart

Create your first typing simulation video

API Reference

Explore the VSCodeMockup class API

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