Run JavaScript in Visual Studio Code

Question

There is a much easier way to run JavaScript, no configuration needed:

1. Install the Code Runner Extension
2. Open the JavaScript code file in Text Editor, then use shortcut Control+Alt+N (or ⌃ Control+⌥ Option+N on macOS), or press F1 and then select/type Run Code, the code will run and the output will be shown in the Output Window.

Besides, you could select part of the JavaScript code and run the code snippet. The extension also works with unsaved files, so you can just create a file, change it to Javascript and write code fast (for when you just need to try something quick). Very convenient!

NodeJS is needed for this else it will not work.

I am surprised this has not been mentioned yet:

Simply open the .js file in question in VS Code, switch to the 'Debug Console' tab, hit the debug button in the left nav bar, and click the run icon (play button)!

Requires nodejs to be installed!

This solution intends to run currently open file in node and show output in VSCode.

I had the same question and found newly introduced tasks useful for this specific use case. It is a little hassle, but here is what I did:

Create a .vscode directory in the root of you project and create a tasks.json file in it. Add this task definition to the file:

{
    "version": "0.1.0",
    "command": "node",
    "isShellCommand": true,
    "args": [
        "--harmony"
    ],

    "tasks": [
        {
            "taskName": "runFile",
            "suppressTaskName": true,
            "showOutput": "always",
            "problemMatcher": "$jshint",
            "args": ["${file}"]
        }
    ]
}

Then you can: press F1 > type `run task` > enter > select `runFile` > enter to run your task, but I found it easier to add a custom key binding for opening tasks lists.

To add the key binding, in VSCode UI menu, go 'Code' > 'Preferences' > 'Keyboard Shortcuts'. Add this to your keyboard shortcuts:

{
    "key": "cmd+r",
    "command": "workbench.action.tasks.runTask"
}

Of course you can select whatever you want as key combination.

UPDATE:

Assuming you are running the JavaScript code to test it, you could mark your task as a test task by setting its isTestCommand property to true and then you can bind a key to the workbench.action.tasks.test command for a single-action invocation.

In other words, your tasks.json file would now contain:

{
    "version": "0.1.0",
    "command": "node",
    "isShellCommand": true,
    "args": [
        "--harmony"
    ],

    "tasks": [
        {
            "taskName": "runFile",
            "isTestCommand": true,
            "suppressTaskName": true,
            "showOutput": "always",
            "problemMatcher": "$jshint",
            "args": ["${file}"]
        }
    ]
}

...and your keybindings.json file would now contain:

{
    "key": "cmd+r",
    "command": "workbench.action.tasks.test"
}

This is the quickest way for you in my opinion;

• Open integrated terminal on visual studio code (View > Integrated Terminal)
• type 'node filename.js'
• press enter

note: node setup required. (if you have a homebrew just type 'brew install node' on terminal)

note 2: homebrew and node highly recommended if you don't have already.

have a nice day.