Setting Up a Windows PC For Web Development: WSL, Git, Visual Studio, Oh My Zsh, etc

This guide will walk you through setting up your Windows environment for web development. We’ll cover enabling Linux with WSL, installing essential tools, and boosting your productivity.

1. Enabling Linux with WSL

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows you to run a Linux environment directly on Windows.

1. Enable Virtualization:
   • Search for “Turn Windows features on or off” in the Start Menu.
   • Enable “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Hypervisor Platform”.
   • Restart your computer when prompted.
2. Install WSL:
   • Open the Microsoft Store.
   • Search for “Linux” and install “Windows Subsystem for Linux”.
3. Install Ubuntu:
   • In the Microsoft Store, search for “Ubuntu”.
   • Install “Ubuntu 20.04” (or your preferred version).
4. Launch Ubuntu:
   • Open the “Terminal” app.
   • Click the dropdown and select “Ubuntu 20.04”.
   • Follow the prompts to set up your username and password.
5. Update Ubuntu:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade
   

2. Installing Homebrew and Essential Packages

Homebrew is a package manager for Linux that simplifies software installation.

1. Install Homebrew:
   • Visit the Homebrew website and copy the installation command.
   • Paste the command into your Ubuntu terminal and run it.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
   • Run the following commands as instructed after installation:

     echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc
     eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
     

   • Install build essential:

     sudo apt install build-essential
     

• Install GCC:

  sudo apt install gcc
  

2. Install Essential Packages with Homebrew:

   brew update
   brew install awscli
   brew install azure-cli
   brew install git
   brew install terraform
   brew install node
   brew install python3
   

3. Configure Git:

   git config --global user.name "Your Username"
   git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
   

3. Configuring Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh is a framework for managing your Zsh configuration.

1. Install Zsh:

   sudo apt install zsh
   

2. Install Oh My Zsh:
   • Visit the Oh My Zsh website and copy the installation command.
   • Paste the command into your terminal and run it.
   • When prompted, choose to switch to zsh as your default shell.
3. Install Powerlevel10k Theme:

   git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-$HOME/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/themes/powerlevel10k
   

• Set ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k" in your ~/.zshrc file.
• Restart your terminal and follow the prompts to configure the theme.

4. Setting up Windows Software

Use the Windows Package Manager (winget) to install essential Windows software.

1. Install Git:

   winget install Git.Git
   

   • After installation, open a new PowerShell terminal and configure Git:

     git config --global user.name "Your Username"
     git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
     

2. Install Visual Studio Code:

   winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
   

   • Install the following extensions:
     • Python
     • C#
     • GitLens
     • Material Icon Theme
3. Install Visual Studio 2022 Community:
   • Download the installer from the Visual Studio website.
   • Select the following workloads during installation:
     • ASP.NET and web development
     • Azure development
     • Python development
     • .NET desktop development
     • Data storage and processing

5. Installing SQL Server and SQL Server Management Studio

1. Install SQL Server 2022 Express:
   • Download the installer from the SQL Server website.
   • Choose the “Basic” installation.
2. Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):
   • Download the installer from the SQL Server website.
   • Run the installer.
3. Configure SQL Server Authentication:
   • Open SSMS and connect using Windows Authentication.
   • Navigate to Security > Logins, right-click sa, and select Properties.
   • Set a new password, uncheck “Enforce password policy”, and enable the login.
   • In the Server Roles tab, select sysadmin.
   • Restart the SQL Server service using SQL Server Configuration Manager.
   • Connect to SSMS using SQL Server Authentication with the sa username and the password you set.

6. Productivity Apps

Install these apps to enhance your productivity:

• DevToys: A toolbox with useful developer utilities.
• PowerToys: A set of utilities for power users.
• Notion: A project management and note-taking tool.
• Microsoft To Do: A task management app.
• Spotify: A music streaming service.
• Notepad++: An advanced text editor.

This comprehensive guide should provide you with a solid foundation for web development on Windows. Remember to adapt these steps to your specific needs and preferences. Happy coding!