Creating a robust development environment on Windows can be an overwhelming task, especially with all the different tools and technologies available. But worry not! This comprehensive setup guide is designed to take you through the process seamlessly, enabling you to establish a nurturing space for your coding endeavors. Buckle up as we dive into the essentials!

Overview

After a plethora of trials and some errors along the way, I’ve managed to put together a solid development environment tailored for Windows. While various guides exist, many lack a holistic approach. This guide aims to provide everything you need to ensconce yourself in a seamless coding experience.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) or Windows 11 [Which version do I have?]
• A [GitHub] account

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

The most crucial step to setting up your Bing-driven coding environment is installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Think of WSL as the magical bridge that allows you to run Linux distributions on your Windows machine.

Installing WSL 2

Installing WSL 2 gives your Windows a taste of the Linux kernel, offering full operating system features. To install WSL 2, simply open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run the following command:

wsl --install

This command will:

• Enable WSL and Virtual Machine Platform components
• Download and install the latest Linux kernel
• Set WSL 2 as the default
• Download and install the Ubuntu Linux distribution (you may need to reboot)

User Config

After installation, launch your distribution (default is Ubuntu) via the Start menu. You will need to create a username and password specific to that Linux distribution – just a fun security feature!

Updating Linux

To keep your system in tip-top shape, regularly update your packages. In Ubuntu, you can do that with:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Mapping Your Linux Drive

For easy access to your Linux directories from Windows, you can map the Ubuntu virtual drive:

1. Open the file explorer and access the wsl$ location.
2. Right-click the Ubuntu folder and select “Map network drive.”
3. Select a drive letter, ensure “Reconnect at sign-in” is checked, then click finish.

Windows Terminal

For a more feature-rich terminal experience, opt for Windows Terminal.

Installing Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal should already be available on Windows 11. For Windows 10, download it from the [Microsoft Store].

Git Config

Most WSL distributions come with Git pre-installed. If you need to install the latest version, run:

sudo apt install git

Next, configure your Git account with your name and email:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"

git config --global user.email youremail@domain.com

Node.js

Node.js is a must-have for JavaScript developers. Think of it as the theater where your JavaScript scripts perform when not in browsers.

NVM (Node Version Manager)

Let’s install NVM to manage Node.js versions easily:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash

With NVM in place, you can switch between Node.js versions as needed:

nvm install --lts

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Restart WSL using the commands:

  • wsl.exe --shutdown

  • wsl.exe

• Verify that your Windows version meets the prerequisites.
• For specific commands, check the official documentation of the respective tools.

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Conclusion

With these steps, you are well on your way to creating a healthy development environment on Windows. Remember to explore new tools, keep your setup updated, and optimize your workflow continually.