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How To Set-Up Your Visual Studio Code for Front-end Web Development (Beginner-Friendly)
Easy step-by-step in learning how to set-up your visual studio code
Table of contents
Introduction
The front-end webmasters' playground is called Visual Studio Code (VS Code). Your development journey will be a breeze thanks to its fantastic add-ons and tips. We'll take you on a colorful journey as we walk you through the process of setting up Visual Studio Code for your front-end web magic, step by step, with loads of entertaining visuals!
Definition
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is like a fancy tool belt for coders, made by Microsoft. It's not picky; it works on different systems. This editor is all about making your code journey comfy and packed with cool stuff. You can write, tweak, and even play detective with your code in lots of programming languages. It's like your trusty sidekick, always ready for web development, software crafting, and all sorts of code adventures.
Pre-requisites
Before you begin the setup process, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place:
A desktop
A good internet connection
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Downloading Visual Studio Code:
Visit the official Visual Studio Code website at https://code.visualstudio.com.
Select the "Download" option for your system when you're ready.
Click "Install" after it's finished.
Step 2: Installing Visual Studio Code:
On your desktop screen, follow the instructions on how to install VS Code.
Step 3: Installing Recommended Extensions:
VS Code has a bunch of cool add-ons that give your front-end adventure an extra kick. Here are some must-haves:
Live Server: It's like a mini-launch party for your website – sets up a local server and does a happy dance whenever you code.
HTML CSS Support: It's your coding buddy – helps out with HTML and CSS suggestions as you type.
Auto Rename Tag: Think of it as a tag mind reader – it automatically fixes both sides of paired HTML tags.
Prettier: This one's like a neatness freak – it tidies up your code to make it all pretty and consistent.
ESLint: It's the code police – that helps keep your JavaScript and TypeScript in tip-top shape.
To add these power-ups, hit the Extensions icon in the sidebar (it's the last icon on the left), find the one you want, and tap "Install." Now you're all set to level up your coding experience
Step 4: Configuring Settings (Optional):
Tweak things to fit your style by hitting the gear icon (⚙️) down there in the bottom-left corner. Then, give "Settings" a little tap.
Now, make VS Code your own – play around with stuff like the look (theme), how big the words are (font size), and even how much space is at the start of lines (indentation). It's like giving your coding space a personal touch!
Step 5: Creating a Project Folder:
Create a new folder on your computer (save it on your desktop) to hold your front-end web development projects.
Step 6: Opening a Project Folder in VS Code:
To kickstart your VS Code, find the "Open Folder" button on the fancy welcome screen, or you can go to "File" and pick "Open Folder" from the menu.
Next, select the project folder you created earlier, and hit "Open." Now you're all set to dive into your coding journey.
Step 7: Running Live Server (Optional):
Although this step is optional, it is necessary because it helps you see what you have built in your Visual Studio Code when you want to run your code.
Open an HTML file from your project and give it a right-click in the editor.
Then, click "Open with Live Server" like you're inviting your web creation to a local shindig. Watch as it comes to life in your browser!
Congratulations! You've successfully setup up front-end web development with VS Code and its features. Now, you're all set to work your web magic, cook up amazing apps, and ride the wave of VS Code's awesomeness and its cool add-ons.
Remember to explore additional extensions and tools that suit your front-end development needs.
#HappyCoding!