Setting up your development environment is a crucial step in starting your journey with JavaScript. This module will guide you through the process of setting up everything you need to write, run, and debug JavaScript code.

A code editor is where you will write your JavaScript code. There are many options available, but here are a few popular ones:

• Pros: Free, highly customizable, large extension library, integrated terminal.
• Cons: Can be resource-intensive on older machines.

• Pros: Lightweight, fast, customizable.
• Cons: Some advanced features require a paid license.

• Pros: Free, open-source, customizable.
• Cons: Can be slower compared to other editors.

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser. npm (Node Package Manager) is a package manager for JavaScript that comes with Node.js.

1. Download Node.js:

   • Go to the Node.js website.
   • Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version for your operating system.

2. Install Node.js:

   • Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Verify Installation:

   • Open your terminal or command prompt.
   • Type node -v and press Enter. You should see the version number of Node.js.
   • Type npm -v and press Enter. You should see the version number of npm.

It's a good practice to organize your projects in a dedicated directory.

1. Open Terminal/Command Prompt:

   • Navigate to the location where you want to create your project directory.

2. Create a Directory:

   • Use the mkdir command to create a new directory.
   • Example: mkdir my-javascript-project

3. Navigate to the Directory:

   • Use the cd command to navigate into your new directory.
   • Example: cd my-javascript-project

Most code editors support extensions that can enhance your development experience. For example, in VS Code, you can install extensions for JavaScript development.

• ESLint: Linting tool for identifying and fixing problems in your JavaScript code.
• Prettier: Code formatter to ensure consistent code style.
• JavaScript (ES6) code snippets: Provides useful code snippets for JavaScript development.

1. Open VS Code.
2. Go to Extensions:
   • Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
3. Search for Extensions:
   • Type the name of the extension (e.g., "ESLint") in the search bar.
4. Install:
   • Click the Install button next to the extension.

Now that your environment is set up, let's run a simple JavaScript program.

1. Create a JavaScript File:

   • In your project directory, create a new file named app.js.

2. Write JavaScript Code:

   • Open app.js in your code editor and write the following code:

   console.log("Hello, World!");
   

3. Run the JavaScript File:

   • Open your terminal or command prompt.
   • Navigate to your project directory.
   • Run the file using Node.js: node app.js

In this module, you have learned how to set up your development environment for JavaScript. You have chosen a code editor, installed Node.js and npm, created a project directory, installed useful extensions, and run your first JavaScript program. With your environment ready, you are now prepared to dive deeper into JavaScript programming.