Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a popular code editor that provides an easy and enjoyable coding experience for many programming languages, including JavaScript. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of running JavaScript code in VSCode. We will assume that you are a beginner programmer and will avoid using too much technical jargon. If we need to use any jargon, we will make sure to explain it in simple terms.

Setting up Visual Studio Code

First of all, you need to have Visual Studio Code installed on your computer. If you haven't installed it yet, you can download it from the official website. The installation process is straightforward, and you can follow the on-screen instructions to complete it.

Once you have Visual Studio Code installed, open it, and you will see a welcome screen with several options. To create a new file, click on the "New File" icon in the upper left corner or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + N (for Windows) or Cmd + N (for macOS).

Now that you have a new file open, you need to save it with the proper file extension, which is .js for JavaScript files. To save the file, click on "File" in the menu, then click on "Save As" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S (for Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (for macOS). Choose a location on your computer, give your file a name (for example, myScript.js), and make sure to add the .js extension at the end.

With your new JavaScript file ready, you can start writing code. But before we do that, let's make sure you have the right tools to run the code.

Installing Node.js

To run JavaScript code in Visual Studio Code, you need to have Node.js installed on your computer. Node.js is a runtime environment that allows executing JavaScript code outside of a web browser. If you don't have Node.js installed, you can download it from the official website. Choose the "LTS" (Long Term Support) version, as it is more stable and has fewer bugs.

After installing Node.js, you can check if it's working by opening your terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS, or your preferred terminal application on Linux). Type the following command and press Enter:

node -v

This command should display the version number of Node.js you installed. If you see the version number, you're good to go!

Running JavaScript in Visual Studio Code

Now that you have everything set up, it's time to write and run some JavaScript code. In your myScript.js file, let's create a simple "Hello, World!" program, which is a traditional first program for learning a new language. Add the following line of code to your file:

console.log('Hello, World!');

This line of code uses the console.log() function to display the text "Hello, World!" in the terminal. The console.log() function is like a megaphone that announces the message you pass as an argument (in this case, the text 'Hello, World!').

To run this code, go back to your terminal and navigate to the folder where you saved your myScript.js file. You can do this by using the cd command followed by the folder path. For example:

cd Desktop/myJavaScriptFolder

Once you're in the right folder, type the following command and press Enter:

node myScript.js

If everything is set up correctly, you should see the text "Hello, World!" displayed in your terminal.

Using Extensions for a Better Experience

Visual Studio Code has a rich ecosystem of extensions that can enhance your coding experience. To run JavaScript code more efficiently, you can install the "Code Runner" extension, which provides a convenient way to execute your code directly in the editor.

To install the "Code Runner" extension, follow these steps:

Click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (it looks like a square with a smaller square in the lower right corner).

In the search bar at the top, type "Code Runner" and press Enter.

Look for the "Code Runner" extension by Jun Han and click on the Install button.

After the installation is complete, you might need to reload Visual Studio Code. You can do this by clicking on the Reload button that appears in the extension's box.

With Code Runner installed, you can now run your JavaScript code directly in Visual Studio Code. To do this, simply right-click anywhere in your myScript.js file and choose "Run Code" from the context menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + N (for Windows) or Cmd + Alt + N (for macOS).

When you run your code using Code Runner, you will see the output in the "Output" panel at the bottom of the editor. In our "Hello, World!" example, you should see the text "Hello, World!" displayed in the Output panel.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have walked you through the process of running JavaScript code in Visual Studio Code. You learned how to set up your environment, install Node.js, and use the Code Runner extension to execute your code efficiently.

By following these steps, you can now run JavaScript code in Visual Studio Code and enjoy a smooth coding experience. As you continue learning and exploring, remember that practice is key to becoming a better programmer. Good luck, and happy coding!