To maximize our time together for learning Node.js, please take care of the following before the workshop. The total time to install the software should be about 60 minutes. If you have questions, please contact me via email: rockncoder@gmail.com.


  1. Install a web development IDE
    1. For the workshop, I will be using JetBrains' WebStorm. If you are accustomed to a different IDE please feel free to use it. Keep in mind, that I won't know how to use your IDE. WebStorm is a paid application but has a free 30-day trial.
  2. Install Git
    1. We will be using git for the workshop. The latest version is 2.14.2. If have it already, but your version is older than 2.6, please update it.
    2. Git is free.
  3. Install Node.js
    1. We need node.js installed on our development machines. If you have a version earlier than 8.0.0, please upgrade. I will be using node version v8.6.0. The easiest way to upgrade Node.js is to install the version that you'd like to use. For advanced students using nvm, brew, or chocolatey, I am aware of these tools, but they each introduce more complexity.
  4. Upgrade npm
    1. NPM comes with node.js but the version installed is usually out of date with the current release. Please update it by entering the following command in the terminal:
    2. npm install npm -g
  5. mLab
    1. mLab is a fully managed MongoDB-as-a-service provider and a partner of Heroku. Will host our MongoDB service on it instead of installing Mongo on our machines. mLab gives us a free developers account tied to our Heroku account. You may need to supply a credit card but you will not be charged so long as you choose the free sandbox account. This is a small 500 MB database on a shared instance but it is more than enough for the class and gives you real world experience.
  6. Heroku
    1. We will deploy our finished app to Heroku, a cloud-based hosting platform. Developer accounts are free. Please sign up now. If you already have an account, please be sure to have at least one free application slot for the workshop.
  7. Heroku CLI
    1. We will also need to install Heroku's command line interface, or CLI. This will allow us make and manager Heroku apps from the command line.  
  8. MongoDB
    1. We will use MongoDB to hold our data, but we will not install the data locally. Instead we will access it remotely at mLab. We will still need to install the MongoDB CLI.
  9. Robomongo
    1. MongoDB includes the Mongo Shell, its REPL. Some people don't like using the REPL, so there is an alternative: Robomongo. I won't use it in class but if you hate the REPL you do have another choice.

Please take care of everything on the list before the workshop. We won't have time to do it during the workshop.

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