Jan 19, 2025

Sabir Thapa

How to install JavaScript?

This article is a complementary resource to the Learn JavaScript Basics course.

How to install JavaScript?

JavaScript is a versatile, high-level programming language that is widely supported across all major operating systems.

Let's see how you can set up JavaScript on your computer. This guide will walk you through the installation process on Windows, macOS, or Linux (Ubuntu).

Windows

MacOS

Linux

Install JavaScript on Windows

To install JavaScript on your Windows, just follow these steps:

Install VS Code
Download Node msi file
Install Node
Verify your installation

Step 1: Install VS Code

Go to the VS Code Official website and download the Windows installer. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the installation process.

Click Finish to complete the installation process

Step 2: Download the Node File

Go to the official Node website and download the Node LTS version.

Step 3: Run the Installer

Now, go to your download folder and run the msi file you just downloaded. Then, you'll come across the install part.

Simply click on install, Node will be successfully installed in your device.

Step 4: Verify your installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify whether JavaScript is installed by using the following command in the command prompt:

node --version

JavaScript Installation Verification for Windows

Install JavaScript on macOS

To install JavaScript on your Mac OS, just follow these steps:

Install VS Code
Download Node.js Package
Install Node.js
Verify your installation

Step 1: Install VS Code

Go to the VS Code Official website and download the Mac installer. Once the download is complete, open the .dmg file and drag Visual Studio Code to your Applications folder.

Step 2: Download the Node.js File

Go to the official Node website and download the Node LTS version.

Step 3: Run the Installer

Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Node.js.

Step 4: Verify your installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify whether JavaScript is installed by using the following command in the command prompt:

node --version

JavaScript Installation Verification for Mac

Install JavaScript on Linux

Linux has various distributions, and the installation process differs slightly from each other. The following installation process is based on the Ubuntu distribution.

Follow these steps to install Node on your device:

Install VS Code
Install Node
Verify your installation

Step 1: Install VS Code

Open the Terminal and type:

sudo apt update

Proceed to install VS Code with:

sudo snap install code --classic

Step 2: Install Node

Open your Terminal and paste the command to install Node on your device:

sudo snap install node --classic

Step 3: Verify your Installation

Once the installation is complete, you can verify whether Node is installed by using the following command in the Terminal:

node --version

JavaScriptInstallation Verification for Linux

Run Your First JavaScript Program

First open VS Code, click on the File in the top menu and then select New File.

Then, save this file with a .js extension by clicking on File again, then Save As, and type your filename ending in .js. (Here, we are saving it as helloWorld.js).

Before you start coding, make sure the extension Code Runner is installed in VS Code. Open VS Code and click on Extensions on the left sidebar. Then, search for the Code Runner and click on install.

Now, write the following code into your helloWorld.js file:

console.log("Hello World")

Then click on the run button on the top right side of your screen.

You should see Hello World! printed to the output.