How to Install Node.js on Visual Studio Code
Node.js is a popular JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It allows developers to run JavaScript code server-side, opening up a world of possibilities for building scalable and efficient web applications. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful code editor that supports a wide range of languages and frameworks, including Node.js.
If you’re looking to install Node.js on VS Code, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up Node.js on VS Code on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Installing Node.js on Windows
Step 1: Download the Node.js installer for Windows from the official website here.
Step 2: Run the installer and follow the installation wizard. Make sure to select the “Add to PATH” option during installation.
Step 3: Open Visual Studio Code and press Ctrl + ` to open the integrated terminal.
Step 4: Verify that Node.js is installed by typing node --version in the terminal. You should see the installed version number.
Installing Node.js on macOS
Step 1: Install Homebrew by running the following command in the Terminal:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"
Step 2: Use Homebrew to install Node.js by running the following command:
brew install node
Step 3: Open Visual Studio Code and press Cmd + ` to open the integrated terminal.
Step 4: Verify that Node.js is installed by typing node --version in the terminal. You should see the installed version number.
Installing Node.js on Linux
Step 1: Install Node.js using your distribution’s package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can run the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs
Step 2: Open Visual Studio Code and press Ctrl + ` to open the integrated terminal.
Step 3: Verify that Node.js is installed by typing node --version in the terminal. You should see the installed version number.
Verifying Node.js Installation
Once you’ve installed Node.js on VS Code, you can verify the installation by creating a new JavaScript file in VS Code and running it using Node.js. Here’s a simple example:
Create a new file named app.js in VS Code and add the following code:
console.log('Hello, Node.js!');
Save the file and open the integrated terminal in VS Code. Navigate to the directory where app.js is saved and run the following command:
node app.js
You should see the message Hello, Node.js! printed in the terminal, confirming that Node.js is correctly installed on VS Code.
Conclusion
Installing Node.js on Visual Studio Code is a straightforward process that opens up a world of possibilities for JavaScript developers. With Node.js, you can build powerful server-side applications and APIs, and with VS Code, you have a powerful code editor at your fingertips. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to set up Node.js on VS Code and start building amazing projects today!