Whenever I get a new laptop or reinstall Windows, I follow the same setup process.
It only takes around 30 minutes and saves a lot of time later.
Install Node.js
I always install the latest LTS version.
BASH
node -v
npm -v
Install Git
Git is essential for version control.
BASH
git --version
Install PNPM
I prefer PNPM because it's fast and uses disk space efficiently.
BASH
npm install -g pnpm
Verify the installation:
BASH
pnpm -v
Create a New Project
BASH
pnpm create next-app
I usually choose:
- TypeScript
- App Router
- ESLint
- Tailwind CSS
Install VS Code Extensions
Some extensions I install immediately:
- ESLint
- Prettier
- GitLens
- Error Lens
- Tailwind CSS IntelliSense
Configure Git
BASH
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
Final Thoughts
A good development environment doesn't need dozens of tools.
A reliable editor, Git, Node.js, and a package manager are enough to start building almost anything.