Setting Up Your Dev Environment
Learn to install Node.js, npm, and other essential tools required for Electron development, ensuring your system is ready to build.
Setting Up Your Dev Environment is a free Electron Desktop App Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Electron Desktop App Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Welcome to Setup!
Building Electron apps starts with a solid setup. In this lesson you will install and verify the core tools your projects depend on.
Node.js: The Foundation
Node.js runs JavaScript outside the browser on Chrome's V8 engine. Electron leans on it for everything the main process does.
Installing Node.js
Install Node.js from the official site — pick the LTS version for stability and follow the wizard. npm comes bundled with it.
Verify Node.js Install
Confirm Node.js works by running a tiny JS file with the node command. The snippet below prints a quick ready message.
console.log("Node.js is ready!");npm: Your Package Manager
npm ships with Node.js and manages your packages — installing, sharing, and updating the reusable code your Electron app depends on.
Verify npm Install
Since npm comes with Node.js, just verify it: run "npm -v" and you should see a version number, confirming it is ready.
Choose Your Code Editor
A good editor smooths everything. VS Code is the top pick for Electron — free, cross-platform, with great JS/HTML/CSS support and debugging.
Git for Version Control
Git tracks changes and is the industry standard. Not strictly required for Hello World, but most Electron templates live on GitHub.
The System PATH Variable
The system PATH tells your terminal where to find commands like node and npm. Installers add Node's location so it works from any directory.
Environment Setup Check!
Which of the following statements about Node.js and npm is TRUE?
Recap: Environment Ready!
Your environment is ready: Node.js to run JS, npm for packages, an editor like VS Code, plus Git and PATH. Time to build your first app!
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Setting Up Your Dev Environment” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Setting Up Your Dev Environment” is free to read here on the web, and the Electron Desktop App Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Electron Desktop App Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Setting Up Your Dev Environment”?
Learn to install Node.js, npm, and other essential tools required for Electron development, ensuring your system is ready to build. You practise Electron Desktop App Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Electron Desktop App Development?
No prior experience is required. Electron Desktop App Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Setting Up Your Dev Environment” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Electron Desktop App Development lesson?
Yes. Every Electron Desktop App Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- What is Electron?
- Setting Up Your Dev Environment
- Your First Electron Application
- Understanding Electron's Architecture