Added a note on python hanging issue on Windows

_episodes/12-virtual-environments.md

@@ -196,6 +196,17 @@ From <a href="https://xkcd.com/1987/" target="_blank">XKCD</a> (Creative Commons
 Let us have a look at how we can create and manage virtual environments from the command line
 using `venv` and manage packages using `pip`.
 
+> ## Making Sure You Can Invoke Python
+> You can test your Python installation from the command line with:
+> ~~~
+> $ python3 --version # on Mac/Linux
+> $ python --version # on Windows — Windows installation comes with a python.exe file rather than a python3.exe file 
+> ~~~
+> {: .language-bash}
+> If you are using Windows and invoking `python` command causes your Git Bash terminal to hang with no error message or output, you may 
+need to create an alias for the python executable `python.exe`, as explained in the [troubleshooting section](../common-issues/index.html#python-hangs-in-git-bash).
+{: .prereq}
+
 ### Creating Virtual Environments Using `venv`
 Creating a virtual environment with `venv` is done by executing the following command:
 

_extras/common-issues.md

@@ -13,10 +13,20 @@ Hanging issues with trying to run Python 3 in Git Bash on Windows
 The solution appears to be to use `winpty` -
 a Windows software package providing an interface similar to a Unix pty-master
 for communicating with Windows command line tools.
-Inside the shell type `alias python='winpty python.exe'`.
+Inside the shell type:
+
+~~~
+$ alias python="winpty python.exe"
+~~~
+{: .language-bash}
+
 This alias will be valid for the duration of the shell session.
 For a more permanent solution, from the shell do:
-`echo "alias python='winpty python.exe'" >> ~/.bashrc`
+~~~
+$ echo "alias python='winpty python.exe'" >> ~/.bashrc
+~~~
+{: .language-bash}
+
 (and from there on remember to invoke Python as `python`
 or whatever command you aliased it to).
 Read more details on the issue at

setup.md

@@ -222,6 +222,10 @@ $ python3 --version # on Mac/Linux
 $ python --version # on Windows — Windows installation comes with a python.exe file rather than a python3.exe file 
 ~~~
 {: .language-bash}
+
+If you are using Windows and invoking `python` command causes your Git Bash terminal to hang with no error message or output, you may 
+need to create an alias for the python executable `python.exe`, as explained in the [troubleshooting section](../common-issues/index.html#python-hangs-in-git-bash).
+
 If all is well with your installation, you should see something like:
 ~~~       
 Python 3.8.2