Simple JavaScript IDE

Question

I am brand new to JavaScript and I would like practice my skills using a simple windows based IDE. While learning I do not want to use any CSS or HTML. I would like if possible to have colour single stepping, highlighting and syntax checking.

So for example you could type in your function(s), call it and receive the result

function squareNumber(x) {
  return x*x;
}

squareNumber(5)

25

I would like something better than the Internet Explorer console.

Answer 1

There are a lot of good online IDEs at the moment. One of my favorites is JSFiddle, but you said you don't want to use CSS and HTML so it's superfluous in this case. You can use JSBin, opening only the Javascript and Console panels. Another very good one is, in my opinion, Ideone, which has a lot of languages(for JS you have to select Javascript Spidermonkey). The last one I suggest you is JSConsole, from the creator of JSBin, which is basically an enhanced Javascript console(as the name states).

Answer 2

Have a look at either,

• WebStorm: real JavaScript IDE (possibly the best.)
• Sublime Text 2: text editor with syntax highlighting, and possibility to install plugins.

You can use either software, together with node.js, to get what you want.

Executing the file,

function squareNumber(x) {
    return x * x;
}

console.log(squareNumber(5));

with node.js will output,

25