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Beginner JavaScript web setup

Install VS Code, Live Server, and Git

This setup gives you a local editor, a browser preview workflow, and Git source control for course examples and repository work. You do not need Node.js for this course.

JavaScript web setup illustration A laptop with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, browser preview, and Git branch symbols. index.html <script src="app.js"> console.log("ready"); JS Go
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Install only what this course needs. This guide covers VS Code, Live Server, Git, and a modern browser. Save Node.js, npm, Vite, and frameworks for the next course.

Setup Checklist

  1. Install Visual Studio Code

    Go to code.visualstudio.com/download, download VS Code for your operating system, and run the installer.

  2. Install Live Server

    Open VS Code, select Extensions, search for Live Server, and install the extension by Ritwick Dey. Direct link: Live Server.

  3. Install Git

    Go to git-scm.com/downloads and install Git. Restart VS Code after installation so it can detect Git.

  4. Configure Git identity

    Open Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell and set the name and email address Git will attach to your commits.

  5. Confirm Git in VS Code

    Open a course folder in VS Code, select Source Control, and confirm VS Code sees your file changes. VS Code has Git support, but Git still must be installed.

Browser Use a modern browser such as Chrome or Edge. We will use browser DevTools throughout the course.
VS Code Git If VS Code says Git is missing, restart VS Code after installing Git. If needed, restart the computer.
No Node Do not install Node.js for this course unless your instructor tells you to. That comes later.

When you finish: you are ready to edit web files locally, preview them with Live Server, and use Git with VS Code for course repository work.

Ready for web dev