How to Set Up Your Dev Environment

Step 1: Install a Code Editor

The first tool every developer needs is a code editor. We recommend Visual Studio Code (VS Code) — it's free, fast, and has a massive ecosystem of extensions.

What to do:

1. Go to code.visualstudio.com
2. Download the installer for your operating system
3. Run the installer with default settings
4. Launch VS Code

Step 2: Set Up Your Terminal

Your terminal is where you'll run commands, install packages, and interact with git.

macOS/Linux: You already have Terminal or you can install iTerm2.

Windows: Install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store, then enable WSL2:

After restarting, you'll have a full Linux environment inside Windows.

Step 3: Install Node.js

Node.js lets you run JavaScript outside the browser. We recommend using nvm (Node Version Manager) so you can switch versions easily.

Install nvm:

Verify installation:

You should see version numbers (e.g., v20.11.0 and 10.2.0).

Step 4: Install Git

Git is the version control system used by virtually every software project.

Configure your identity:

Step 5: Install Essential VS Code Extensions

Open VS Code and install these extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X to open the extensions panel):

| Extension | Why | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | ESLint | Catches JavaScript/TypeScript errors as you type | | Prettier | Auto-formats your code on save | | GitLens | See who changed each line and when | | Error Lens | Shows errors inline, right next to the problem |

Enable format-on-save:

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+,)
2. Search for "format on save"
3. Check the box

Step 6: Create Your First Project

Let's verify everything works by creating a small project:

Open it in VS Code:

Create a file called index.js:

Run it:

Step 7: Set Up a GitHub Account

GitHub is where you'll store your code, collaborate with others, and build your portfolio.

1. Go to github.com and create an account
2. Set up SSH keys for passwordless authentication:

3. Copy the output and add it to GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key

Test the connection:

You should see: "Hi username! You've successfully authenticated."

Step 8: Your Dev Environment Checklist

Before moving on, confirm you have all of these working:

• [ ] VS Code installed and configured
• [ ] Terminal accessible (with WSL on Windows)
• [ ] Node.js and npm installed via nvm
• [ ] Git installed and configured with your identity
• [ ] ESLint + Prettier extensions active
• [ ] GitHub account with SSH key connected

What's next? Now that your environment is set up, learn How to Read Error Messages — the single most valuable debugging skill you'll develop.