The first step is to install all the appropriate software to get our environment together. Please install the following on the computer you intend to complete all the tutorials from.
- VS Code - free code editor and IDE (our recommendation). This is an application to view files and code. This application also includes many handy extensions that can help us with version control and file serving.
- Git version control software. You will also need an account on Github.com.
- all installation details are included in the Getting Started Installing Git link.
- if you have a mac, and you have installed Xcode, you already have git. You can test this by opening your terminal and running
git --version. - if you are using a PC, an application called "git bash" will be part of the default git install. You should use this application every time we reference "terminal", rather than the "command prompt".
- an alternative for both mac and pc is to use the source control options that come with the default VS Code installation. This is often easier than opening terminal each time and offers many of the same actions.
- Node - javascript development software. You can check if the install was succesful by running
node -vin your git bash (PC) or terminal (Mac). It should return your version number.