Installing Essential Development Tools
Installing Essential Development Tools with Cline | New Coders
When you start coding, you’ll need some essential development tools installed on your computer. Cline can help you install everything you need in a safe, guided way.
The Essential Tools
Here are the core tools you’ll need for development:
- Homebrew: A package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install other tools
- Node.js & npm: Required for JavaScript and web development
- Git: For tracking changes in your code and collaborating with others
- Python: A programming language used by many development tools
- Additional utilities: Tools like wget and jq that help with downloading files and processing data
Let Cline Install Everything
Copy this prompt and paste it into Cline:
Hello Cline! I need help setting up my Mac for software development. Could you please help me install the essential development tools like Homebrew, Node.js, Git, Python, and any other utilities that are commonly needed for coding? I'd like you to guide me through the process step-by-step, explaining what each tool does and making sure everything is installed correctly.
What Will Happen
- Cline will first install Homebrew, which is like an “app store” for development tools
- Using Homebrew, Cline will then install other essential tools like Node.js and Git
- For each installation step:
- Cline will show you the exact command it wants to run
- You’ll need to approve each command before it runs
- Cline will verify each installation was successful
Why These Tools Are Important
- Homebrew: Makes it easy to install and update development tools on your Mac
- Node.js & npm: Required for:
- Building websites with React or Next.js
- Running JavaScript code
- Installing JavaScript packages
- Git: Helps you:
- Save different versions of your code
- Collaborate with other developers
- Back up your work
- Python: Used for:
- Running development scripts
- Data processing
- Machine learning projects
Notes
- The installation process is interactive - Cline will guide you through each step
- You may need to enter your computer’s password for some installations. When prompted, you will not see any characters being typed on the screen. This is normal and is a security feature to protect your password. Just type your password and press Enter.
Example:
$ /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Password:
Type your password here, even though nothing will show up on the screen. Press Enter when you’re done.
- All commands will be shown to you for approval before they run
- If you run into any issues, Cline will help troubleshoot them
Additional Tips for New Coders
Understanding the Terminal
The Terminal is an application where you can type commands to interact with your computer. On macOS, you can open it by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight.
Example:
$ open -a Terminal
Understanding VS Code Features
Terminal in VS Code
The Terminal in VS Code allows you to run commands directly from within the editor. You can open it by going to View > Terminal or by pressing Ctrl + `.
Example:
$ node -v
v16.14.0
Document View
The Document View is where you edit your code files. You can open files by clicking on them in the Explorer panel on the left side of the screen.
Problems Section
The Problems section in VS Code shows any errors or warnings in your code. You can access it by clicking on the lightbulb icon or by going to View > Problems.
Common Features
- Command Line Interface (CLI): This is a text-based interface where you type commands to interact with your computer. It might seem intimidating at first, but it’s a powerful tool for developers.
- Permissions: Sometimes, you will need to give permissions to certain applications or commands. This is a security measure to ensure that only trusted applications can make changes to your system.
Next Steps
After installing these tools, you’ll be ready to start coding! Return to the Getting Started with Cline for New Coders guide to continue your journey.