Setting up your devtools

Warning:

• Do this when you have a good internet connection
• These will take a bunch of storage space. You won't need this much, but having 50-100GB free should be more than enough.

Windows users only:

• Install Windows Terminal
  • ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9N0DX20HK701
  • Paste this link into your browser to open the Windows Store
• Install Powershell 7
  • ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9mz1snwt0n5d
  • This is different from the pre-installed version and has really nice features
• (Optional) Install WSL
  • ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9p9tqf7mrm4r
  • This lets you run Linux on Windows, which is incredibly useful
• (Optional) Install Ubuntu
  • ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9pdxgncfsczv
  • Requires WSL
• Go to your Windows Update settings
  • ms-settings:windowsupdate?activationSource=SMC-IA-4027667
  • Click "Check for updates," install any updates
• Restart your PC, and check for updates again. Repeat these two steps until there's nothing left.
• Open Windows Terminal
  • Go to Settings > Startup > Default Profile
    • Set it to Powershell or Powershell 7
    • Click save
    • Open a new tab
    • Wait for Powershell to load. Make sure it says "Powershell <version number>."
      • If the version number is at least 7.0.0, you can continue
      • If the version number is lower or doesn't show up, you need to change the default profile again to a different Powershell
    • (Optional) Go to Settings > Defaults > turn on "Run this profile as Administrator"
      • Windows doesn't have a "sudo" command like Unix/Linux does, so this makes using the terminal more convenient
• With a Powershell 7 tab open, copy and run these commands:

    winget install -e --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop
    winget install -e --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
    winget install -e --id JetBrains.Toolbox
  

Linux/WSL users only:

• Update and install your packages
  • On Ubuntu/Debian:

    sudo apt update
    sudo apt upgrade -y
    sudo reboot  
    

MacOS users only:

• Please update MacOS.

Install Git

• On Windows

    winget install -e --id Git.Git
  

• Other platforms

Install an IDE

You have 2 (major) options: JetBrains and VSCode.

• VSCode is very popular, has tons of plugins, and is super easy to set up and use
• JetBrains has fewer plugins and is harder to use, but has incredibly powerful tools and automation that make coding a lot easier
• You SHOULD use both!
  • VSCode is great for small edits and having 1 universal editor
  • JetBrains' stuff is amazing for going super deep into 1 project with a popular tech stack

UNFINISHED STUFF:

• Install pnpm (not npm)
  • This is a way better package manager than npm or yarn
  • It will save several GBs of space and make your life easier
  • Instructions
  • NOTE: If you see any tutorials in the future that tell you to use 'npm' or 'npx', replace those instructions with 'pnpm' and 'pnpm dlx' respectively
• Install node
  • Click here
• Get GitHub Desktop
  • This is a GUI for Git that makes it easier to use
  • Click here
• Get JetBrains Toolbox (Optional)
  • This just makes it easier to install and manage JetBrains IDEs
    • i.e. it automatically updates them for you and lets you install them with 1 click
  • Click here
• Get Visual Studio Code
  • Click here
• Install GitHub Copilot
  • This is an AI that helps you write code
    • You shouldn't trust it 100%, but it's a great tool to have
  • You need to be approved for the GitHub Student Developer Pack to use it
  • Click here for VSCode
  • Click here for JetBrains
• MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL POPULAR PLUGINS FOR YOUR IDES
  • They're popular for a reason
  • Not all of them will be relevant for what we're doing though
  • If it looks helpful, install it and try it out