CSE 340: Web Backend Development

W01 Setup: Tools

Overview

In this activity, you will set up the necessary tools and environment for the CSE 340 course. This includes installing software, configuring settings, and ensuring that everything is working correctly. By the end of this activity, you should have a fully functional development environment ready for the course assignments and projects.

Instructions

Follow these steps to complete the setup activity:

Install VS Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is the application you will use to write your project code during this course. If you have already installed it in a previous course you may move to the next step.

Enable AI assisted coding

In this course, you are encouraged to use AI to assist you in writing code. Just like in industry, you should understand every line of code that you commit to your GitHub repository. For this reason, you are encouraged to use the line-by-line autocomplete rather than having an AI chat generate whole files at a time.

Enable inline code suggestions:

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Click on the gear icon in the lower left corner to open the Settings menu.
  3. Select "Settings" from the menu.
  4. In the search bar at the top of the Settings tab, type "Inline suggest" and press Enter.
  5. Look for the setting named "Editor > Inline Suggest: Enabled".
  6. Check the box next to this setting to enable inline code suggestions.
  7. Close the Settings tab. Inline code suggestions should now be enabled in your VS Code editor.

Create your Course GitHub Repository

Git is a version control system that allows you to track changes in your code and collaborate with others. GitHub is the web-based Git platform that you will use in this course.

  1. If you have not already installed it in a previous course, download and install Git: Git Download Page
  2. In a web browser, navigate to GitHub.com and sign in to your account (you should create an account if you do not already have one).
  3. Create your course repository:
    1. Click the "+" icon in the upper right corner and select "New repository".
    2. Choose a name for your repository (for example, cse340-course-repo).
    3. Make sure your repository is public so your teacher, grader, and team members can see it.
    4. Add a README file.
    5. For a .gitignore file, select Node.
    6. You may choose a license if desired, or simply leave it as No License.
    7. Click Create repository.
  4. Clone your repository to your local machine:
    1. Open VS Code.
    2. If it does not open to the welcome screen, select File > New Window.
    3. On the VS Code Welcome Screen, select Clone Git Repository...
    4. Enter the URL of your GitHub repository and select a local folder to clone it to.
    5. If prompted, enter your GitHub credentials.
    6. Click Select as Repository Destination and follow any additional prompts to clone the repository or open it.

Install Node.js and NPM

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser. NPM (Node Package Manager) is a package manager for Node.js that allows you to install and manage libraries and tools for your projects.

  1. Download and install Node.js (which includes NPM): Node.js Download Page
  2. Verify the installation:
    1. Open a terminal or command prompt.
    2. Type node -v and press Enter. You should see the version number of Node.js.
    3. Type npm -v and press Enter. You should see the version number of NPM.
  3. If prompted on the terminal, run the command to update to the latest version of these tools.

Install PG Admin

PG Admin is the application you will use to manager your PostgreSQL databases during this course and run queries.

  1. Download and install PG Admin: PG Admin Download Page
  2. Verify that PG Admin is working by opening the application on your computer.

Verify your installation

Make sure that you have completed every step of these instructions. If you ran into trouble please post a message to Microsoft Teams or contact your instructor in Canvas.

Submission

When you have completed the instructions listed above:

Other Links: