In this lesson, you'll learn the basics of databases by setting up SQLite in your Flask project.

SQLite is a lightweight database that stores data in a file, perfect for small projects. You'll create a database file, define a table for user data, and insert records via a Flask route handling POST requests from a form. You'll focus on connecting to the database, running basic SQL commands, and testing that data persists even after restarting the app.

By the end, you'll understand how to store and retrieve persistent data in a web backend. Here's what you'll do:

1. Set up your project.
2. Create a SQLite database and table.
3. Build a form and route to insert data.
4. Test data persistence.

To keep your work organised, start by creating a new folder for this lesson's project.

1. On your computer, create a new folder named 'FlaskSQLiteIntro'.
2. Open VS Code and select File > Open Folder, then choose 'FlaskSQLiteIntro'.

Create a virtual environment to manage your project's dependencies.

1. Open the Command Palette: View > Command Palette.
2. Type 'Python: Create Environment' and select it.
3. Choose 'Venv'.
4. Select your Python version.
5. VS Code will create a '.venv' folder.

Open a terminal in VS Code to install Flask.

1. Go to View > Terminal.
2. Run: pip install flask.
3. Wait for the installation to complete.