This chapter provides the necessary foundation for working with TensorFlow 2.x. We will begin by looking at the structure and purpose of TensorFlow itself. You will learn how to set up a development environment using common tools like pip and conda.

We will address the practical differences between running TensorFlow computations on a CPU versus a GPU and how to configure your system accordingly. Following the setup instructions, we provide steps to verify that your installation is functional, including checking for GPU availability. Finally, we introduce the broader TensorFlow ecosystem, briefly mentioning key components like Keras and TensorBoard that will be used in later chapters. Upon completion, you will have a properly configured TensorFlow environment.