JavaScript Devlopment Environment

Here, we are going to use JavaScript in developing a web application. So, we must have at least two things, a browser, and an editor to write the JavaScript code.

Although we also need a webserver to run a web application, but we will use a single HTML web page to run our JavaScript code. So, no need to install it for now.

Browser

Mostly, you will have a browser already installed on your PC, Microsoft Edge on the Windows platform, and Safari on Mac OS.

You can also install the following browser as per your preference:

• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome
• Mozilla FireFox
• Safari
• Opera

IDEs for JavaScript Application Development

You can write JavaScript code using a simple editor like Notepad. However, you can install any open-sourced or licensed IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to get the advantage of IntelliSense support for JavaScript and syntax error/warning highlighter for rapid development.

The followings are some of the well-known JavaScript editors:

• Visual Studio Code (Free, cross-platform)
• Eclipse (Free, cross-platform)
• Atom (Free, cross-platform)
• Notepad++ (Free, Windows)
• Code Lobster (Free, cross-platform)
• WebStorm (Paid, cross-platform)

Online Editors for JavaScript

Use the online editor to quickly execute the JavaScript code without any installation. The followings are free online editors:

• jsfiddle.net
• jsbin.com
• playcode.io

Popular Javascript Engines

• V8: Developed by Google for Chrome and used in Node.js.
• SpiderMonkey: Mozilla’s JavaScript engine, used in Firefox.
• JavaScriptCore: Apple's engine, also known as Nitro, used in Safari.
• Chakra: Microsoft’s former JavaScript engine for Internet Explorer and the older Edge

Package Managers

• npm (Node Package Manager): The default package manager for Node.js, npm allows developers to install libraries, frameworks, and tools needed for JavaScript development.
• Yarn: An alternative to npm, known for faster installations and better handling of dependencies.

Frameworks and Libraries

• Frontend Frameworks: Libraries like React, Vue, Angular, and Svelte provide component-based architectures, making it easier to manage complex user interfaces.
• Backend Frameworks: Express.js (for Node.js), Koa, and NestJS simplify server-side development with routing, middleware, and database integrations.