Lab Access & Tooling Requirements

Get your development environment ready for hands-on practice

6 min read•Updated Feb 21, 2026•Beginner

Lab Access & Tooling Requirements

Cloudegree bootcamps include hands-on labs where you work with real cloud services. This guide ensures your machine and accounts are set up before your first lab session.

Minimum System Requirements

You don't need a powerful machine — labs run in the cloud. But you need a reliable setup to access them:

| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended | |-------------|---------|-------------| | Operating System | Windows 10, macOS 10.15, or Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+) | Latest stable version | | Browser | Chrome 90+, Firefox 90+, or Edge 90+ | Chrome (latest) | | RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB+ | | Internet | 5 Mbps stable | 10 Mbps+ | | Screen | 13" display | 15"+ or dual monitor | | Webcam/Mic | For live sessions | Built-in or external |

Chromebooks and tablets can work for most browser-based labs but may struggle with CLI tools. A laptop or desktop is recommended.

Cloud Accounts (Free Tier)

You'll need a free-tier account on at least one cloud provider, depending on your bootcamp:

Microsoft Azure (Most Bootcamps)

  1. Go to azure.microsoft.com/free
  2. Click Start free and sign in with a Microsoft account
  3. You'll get $200 in credits for 30 days + 12 months of free services
  4. A credit card is required for verification but won't be charged within free limits

Used in: Cloud Foundation, Cloud Engineering, Cloud Architect, AZ-305, AZ-400, AZ-500, SC-100

Amazon Web Services (AWS Bootcamps)

  1. Go to aws.amazon.com/free
  2. Click Create a Free Account
  3. You'll get 12 months of free-tier services for many core products
  4. A credit card is required for verification

Used in: AWS Solutions Architect Associate, AWS Solutions Architect Professional

Google Cloud Platform (GCP Bootcamps)

  1. Go to cloud.google.com/free
  2. Click Get started for free
  3. You'll get $300 in credits for 90 days + always-free products
  4. A credit card is required for verification

Used in: Google Associate Cloud Engineer, Google Professional Cloud Architect

Important: Set up billing alerts in your cloud account to avoid unexpected charges. All labs are designed to stay within free-tier limits, but billing alerts add an extra safety net.

Essential Tools

Install these tools on your local machine before your bootcamp starts. Your instructor will guide you through any bootcamp-specific tools during the first session.

Required for All Bootcamps

1. Visual Studio Code (Code Editor)

The primary editor for writing configurations, scripts, and infrastructure code.

  • Download: code.visualstudio.com
  • Install recommended extensions:
    • Azure Account (for Azure bootcamps)
    • AWS Toolkit (for AWS bootcamps)
    • Cloud Code (for GCP bootcamps)
    • YAML
    • Docker (if applicable)
    • Remote - SSH

2. Terminal / Command Line

You'll run cloud CLI commands, scripts, and deployment tools from the terminal.

| OS | Default Terminal | Recommended | |----|-----------------|-------------| | Windows | PowerShell | Windows Terminal + PowerShell 7 | | macOS | Terminal.app | iTerm2 or built-in Terminal | | Linux | Bash | Default terminal |

3. Git

Version control for tracking your lab work and projects.

  • Download: git-scm.com
  • Verify installation: Run git --version in your terminal
  • Configure: 
    git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

Cloud-Specific CLI Tools

Install the CLI for the cloud provider your bootcamp uses:

Azure CLI

# macOS
brew install azure-cli

# Windows (MSI installer)
# Download from https://learn.microsoft.com/cli/azure/install-azure-cli-windows

# Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash

Verify: az --version

Login: az login

AWS CLI

# macOS
brew install awscli

# Windows
# Download from https://aws.amazon.com/cli/

# Linux
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
unzip awscliv2.zip && sudo ./aws/install

Verify: aws --version

Configure: aws configure

Google Cloud CLI

# macOS
brew install --cask google-cloud-sdk

# Windows / Linux
# Download from https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install

Verify: gcloud --version

Login: gcloud auth login

Optional but Useful Tools

These aren't required on day one but will be introduced during some bootcamps:

| Tool | Purpose | Install | |------|---------|---------| | Docker Desktop | Run containers locally | docker.com/products/docker-desktop | | Terraform | Infrastructure as Code | developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/install | | kubectl | Kubernetes management | kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools | | Postman | API testing | postman.com/downloads | | Node.js | JavaScript runtime for scripting | nodejs.org | | Python 3 | Scripting and automation | python.org |

Your instructor will tell you which tools are needed before each lab. Don't worry about installing everything upfront.

Pre-Bootcamp Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you're ready before your first session:

  • [ ] Cloudegree account created — /auth/signup
  • [ ] Profile completed — /profile with name, timezone, and avatar
  • [ ] Cloud account created — Azure, AWS, or GCP (based on your bootcamp)
  • [ ] Billing alerts set — Free-tier budget alert configured in your cloud account
  • [ ] VS Code installed — With relevant cloud extensions
  • [ ] Terminal ready — Can open and run basic commands
  • [ ] Git installed — git --version returns a version number
  • [ ] Cloud CLI installed — az --version, aws --version, or gcloud --version works
  • [ ] Stable internet — Tested with a video call or speed test
  • [ ] Calendar blocked — Live sessions and lab times scheduled on your calendar

Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues

| Problem | Solution | |---------|----------| | Cloud CLI won't install | Check your OS version meets requirements; try running the installer as admin/sudo | | az login fails | Clear browser cache; try az login --use-device-code for headless environments | | VS Code extensions not loading | Restart VS Code; check for version compatibility | | Git not recognized | Restart terminal after installation; add Git to your system PATH | | Free-tier credit expired | Create a new cloud account or contact support for lab alternatives | | Docker won't start on Windows | Enable WSL2 and Hyper-V in Windows Features |

Getting Help

If you run into issues during setup:

  1. Check the FAQ — /faq covers common platform questions
  2. Ask in the Community — /community forums have setup-specific threads
  3. Contact Support — /contact for direct assistance
  4. Ask your instructor — Setup time is built into the first session of every bootcamp

Next Steps