Tools for JavaScript development

You can make a start in JavaScript programming and go a very long way with just a few simple tools. The two essentials are an editor to write the programs and a browser to run them. Windows users will already have NotePad and Internet Explorer but I prefer to use NotePad++ as an editor and FireFox as a browser.

Warning and disclaimer

Both FireFox and NotePad++ are well-known and reputable tools and my only association with them is that I've used them for many years. I have had no problems but there is always the chance that their download sites have been compromised. I can't give a 100% guarantee that their products are safe.

NotePad++

JavaScript programs are nothing more than text files and can be created with something as simple as the basic Windows NotePad application. The problem with NotePad is that it is a general-purpose tool to edit any sort of text file. NotePad++ has extra features that come into play when you are editing a web page or a JavaScript program.

Visit their site at http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/download.php to download the latest version.

The only drawback with these two tools is that editor itself can't run the web page and show you what you've done. You can however call FireFox from NotePad++ and FireFox can be set up so that NotePad++ becomes the default editor. Together they make a very good development environment for simple web pages and programs.

FireFox

Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the most popular browser but it's not totally compliant with international standards. Firefox is the browser that most developers use. It too isn't totally compliant but it comes closer than Internet Explorer and it has a number of useful add-ons which are invaluable when you're programming.

FireFox is free. Visit the Mozilla site to download a copy.

Just as an experiment, open both FireFox and Internet Explorer at the same time and visit the same sites in both. You should find that the sites look similar but not identical. It's good to test your own sites like this. FireFox has around 20% of the market so some of your visitors are bound to be using it.

Other tools

NotePad++ and FireFox make a good starting point. More powerful tools are available but their power will hide the details of what you're doing and will protect you from your mistakes. When you're learning a new language you need to see the details and you need to learn from your mistakes. Save the power tools until later. You don't need a sat-nav on your first driving lesson.

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