re: Free Coding Software Suggestions?

As mentioned above it is an IDE. You need an IDE to compile/run your code. This is simply a text editor (like Word) but specifically one where you write your code in and it can run the code you write. When you type code and want to run it your computer needs to know what to do with it. An IDE says to your computer, "hey this is python code here's what you're supposed to do".

ETA: if you, or anyone, are local to BR and serious about learning programming or looking for a group to bounce some shite around hit me up fatbatmantd@gmail.com. I started about a year ago and would love to get something going locally.