WebStorm — An Introduction

3 min readJun 29, 2023

Introduction

When entering the realm of web development, it’s essential to equip yourself with efficient tools that streamline your coding process. One such powerful tool is WebStorm. Developed by JetBrains, WebStorm is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specially designed for modern JavaScript. It provides developers with an extensive set of features like intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error detection, powerful navigation, and integrated version control systems.

What is WebStorm?

WebStorm is a cutting-edge IDE that supports JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, including modern innovations like TypeScript, React, Angular, Vue.js, and Node.js. The IDE is renowned for its user-friendly interface, intelligent coding assistance, and powerful debugging features. Whether you are an experienced developer or a beginner, WebStorm proves to be an invaluable asset in your web development journey.

Code Assistance and Completion

WebStorm’s intelligent code editor provides autocomplete features that predict what you’re trying to type, thereby increasing coding speed. Additionally, it automatically checks your code for errors and provides quick fixes.

// Example in JavaScript
var person = {
    name: "Alice",
    age: 25
};

console.log(person.na); // WebStorm will suggest 'name' as you type 'na'.

Version Control Integration

WebStorm is integrated with popular Version Control Systems like Git, GitHub, SVN, Mercurial, and Perforce. This allows developers to perform various VCS-related tasks within the IDE, making collaboration and version management easier.

// Example: Cloning a Git repository
File -> New -> Project from Version Control -> Git
Enter the Git repository URL, and click Clone.

Debugging and Testing

WebStorm’s built-in debugger allows you to debug JavaScript code running in Node.js or the browser. You can set breakpoints, step through the code, and evaluate expressions — all without leaving the IDE.

// Example in JavaScript
function add(a, b) {
    debugger; // Set a breakpoint here in WebStorm
    return a + b;
}
console.log(add(5, 3));

Integration with Build Tools and Package Managers

WebStorm integrates with popular build tools like Grunt, Gulp, Webpack, and package managers like npm and yarn. This ensures a streamlined development process, enabling you to stay within the IDE for most tasks.

# Example: Using npm to install a package
Right-click on your project -> New -> Node.js package.json
In the opened file, click on the green ‘+’ button to add a dependency

Setting Up WebStorm

WebStorm is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. To install WebStorm, visit the official JetBrains website, download the installer for your operating system, and follow the installation instructions.

Customizing Your Environment

After installation, WebStorm allows you to customize your environment. You can choose a color theme, configure the font size, and select plugins to enhance your development experience. WebStorm’s marketplace has a plethora of plugins ranging from themes to productivity tools.

Creating Your First Project

Once WebStorm is set up, let’s create your first project.

Launch WebStorm and click on Create New Project.
Choose the project type. For a simple web application, you can choose HTML5 Boilerplate. For Angular, React, or Vue.js applications, choose the corresponding option.
Choose a location to save your project and click on Create.

Your project is now created, and you’ll see the WebStorm interface with your project files.

Writing and Running Code

Now, let’s write a simple HTML file with some JavaScript.

Right-click on your project folder, select New -> HTML File, and name it index.html.
Similarly, create a JavaScript file named main.js.
In index.html, add a script tag linking to main.js:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>WebStorm Introduction</title>
</head>
<body>
    <script src="main.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In main.js, write a simple JavaScript code:

console.log("Hello, WebStorm!");

To run this code, right-click on index.html and select Open in Browser. Your browser will open, and if you open the console, you'll see “Hello, WebStorm!” printed.

Conclusion

WebStorm is an incredibly powerful tool for web development. It streamlines the coding process and boosts productivity through its intelligent code assistance, built-in debugging, and seamless integration with version control systems and build tools. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced web developer, WebStorm is an essential addition to your toolkit.