First App.
Your learning space A little progress, every day
CHAPTER 02Lesson 6 of 20

Install the free building tools

Your AI helper needs a few free tools to run a website on your laptop. It can check what is already installed.

On your Mac10 min read & do
By the end of this lesson

Have Node.js, npm and Git ready without buying hosting or opening a cloud editor.

Let’s do this

  1. 1
    In your AI helper

    Ask the AI to check first

    Paste the message below. Node.js runs the website’s building tools. npm downloads the project’s code packages. Git saves a history of changes. The checks report versions; they do not create a website.

    node --version
npm --version
git --version
  2. 2
    In your browser

    Install Node.js only if needed

    Open the official Node.js download page and choose the recommended LTS release for macOS. LTS means a release supported for longer. Run the official installer, then fully quit and reopen your AI app so it can find the tools. Ask it to check that your Node version meets the current Vite requirement.

    Node.js: official download (opens a new tab)
  3. 3
    In the macOS installer

    Let macOS install Git if it asks

    Running the Git check may offer Apple’s Command Line Tools. Accept that installer and let it finish, then check again. These tools are smaller than the full Xcode app; you do not need Xcode to follow this website course.

  4. 4
    In your browser

    Add GitHub Desktop for the later save steps

    Install the free GitHub Desktop app from its official page. Sign in or create a GitHub Free account. You can leave it alone until the save lesson. You will use it to review changes and send versions to GitHub without typing Git commands.

    GitHub Desktop: installation (opens a new tab)

A message for your AI helper

Check node --version, npm --version and git --version in this project. Explain what each tool does and whether it is ready. Check current Vite requirements. If something is missing, guide me through the official Mac installer, one step at a time. Keep this local and free. Do not create the project files yet.

Make this message fit your idea.

What you should see

The version checks work, and your AI helper confirms it can build a Vite project in the selected folder.

If you get stuck

Go at your own pace. There is no test to pass.

Checked 7 September 2026. Screens can change; the official guides below have the latest steps.

Node.js: official downloadVite: getting startedGitHub Desktop: installation