To start be sure to install Git version 2.28.0 or higher.

macOS/OS X Installation

A lot of developer technologies require XCode’s command-line tools. To install them, you’ll need to pull up the Terminal app on your Mac. The easiest way to do this is through Spotlight Search: click the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner of your Mac, and start typing Terminal; click the result that appears labeled as an Application.

You’ll have a small white window that pops up, with a line that most likely has the name of your computer followed by a colon, tilde, and dollar-sign, e.g., janes-mac:~ $. There’ll also be a cursor, which may or may not blink.

Type xcode-select --install (note the space before the two hyphens) and hit the Return/Enter key. (You might be prompted for your admintrator password.) You should see a some output fly by, unless you've installed XCode previously. In that case, you'll get an error informing you that your command-line tools are already installed. Once the script has finished running and you see the dollar-sign prompt again, type git version and press return. You should see git version 2.17.2 (Apple Git-113), or a similar number, output in the Terminal window.

To easily install the very latest version of Git, follow the instructions below for installing Homebrew and then run:

$ brew install git

Don't forget to configure Git once you've got the latest version installed.

Java Script Runtime: Node.js

Node.js is a server-side JavaScript platform. In this case, "server" refers to your own personal computer—as opposed to JavaScript 's usual hideout in the web browser.

macOS/OS X Installation

There are two options for installing Node.js on macOS. Read about both before making a decision.

The first, which is not preferable, is to download and install the Mac Node.js installer from the Node.js download page.

Walk through the LTS installer, and accept the defaults. Test that the install was successful by pulling up the Terminal app on your Mac. The easiest way to do this is through Spotlight Search: click the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner of your Mac, and start typing Terminal; click the result that appears labeled as an Application. At the prompt in the Terminal window (the prompt will look something like janes-mac:~ $), type node -v and hit the Return/Enter key. You’ll see another line of output similar to v10.15.0.

HOWEVER. If you’re serious about preparing your Mac for more advanced forms of digital development, here is the second option, which I recommend. It is a more sophisticated, less hassle-prone way to get Node.js and a bunch of additional developer-grade tools:

i. Install Homebrew

Assuming you've alread installed the Xcode command-line tools above, in the Git installation step, this should be pretty straightforward.

You’ll be able to install Homebrew, which gives you access to a whole galaxy of developer tools for easy installation and updating on the command line. To install Homebrew, just copy and paste the line below into your Terminal window, and press return:

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

You may be prompted for your administrative password, and to answer a few questions. A bunch of output will fly by. Once you’re returned to the command-line prompt, go onto the next step.

ii. Install Node.js with Homebrew

To install Node.js, once Homebrew has finished installing itself, just type brew install node and press return. A bunch of output will fly by.

iii. Test Node.js

At the prompt in the Terminal window (again, the prompt will look something like janes-mac:~ $), type node -v and hit the Return/Enter key. You’ll see another line of output similar to v11.6.0.

*Above notes …(In Progress … )

-- FredLogan - 15 Aug 2020