**Course Title:** Modern JavaScript Programming: From Fundamentals to Full-Stack Development **Section Title:** Introduction to JavaScript and Setup **Topic:** Install Node.js and write a simple JavaScript program using modern ES6 syntax.(Lab topic) ### Objective: By the end of this lab, you will be able to install Node.js, set up a development environment, and write a simple JavaScript program using modern ES6 syntax. ### Prerequisites: Before starting this lab, make sure you have completed the following topics: * JavaScript overview: History, role in web development, and runtime environments (browser, Node.js) * Setting up a development environment with Visual Studio Code, Node.js, and npm * Basic syntax: Variables (var, let, const), data types, operators, and expressions * Running JavaScript in the browser console and via Node.js ### Installing Node.js: To install Node.js, follow these steps: 1. Go to the [Node.js download page](https://nodejs.org/en/download/) and select the correct installer for your operating system. 2. Download and run the installer, following the prompts to complete the installation. 3. Once installed, open a terminal or command prompt and type `node -v` to verify that Node.js has been installed successfully. ### Setting up a Development Environment: In this lab, we will use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as our development environment. To set up VS Code, follow these steps: 1. Download and install VS Code from the [official website](https://code.visualstudio.com/). 2. Create a new folder for your project and navigate to it in the terminal or command prompt. 3. Open VS Code and select the folder you created as the workspace. ### Writing a Simple JavaScript Program: Create a new file called `hello.js` in your project folder and add the following code: ```javascript // Import the console module import console from 'console'; // Define a function that prints a greeting function greet(name) { console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`); } // Call the function with your name greet('John'); ``` This code imports the console module, defines a function that prints a greeting, and calls the function with a name. ### Running the Program: To run the program, follow these steps: 1. Open a terminal or command prompt in your project folder. 2. Type `node hello.js` to run the program. 3. Observe the output in the console. ### Tips and Variations: * Try changing the name in the `greet` function call to see the output change. * Experiment with different console methods, such as `console.log()`, `console.info()`, and `console.error()`. * Write a new function that takes a name and age as arguments and prints a greeting with the age. ### Key Concepts: * Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side. * ES6 syntax is a modern JavaScript syntax that provides features such as imports, exports, and arrow functions. * The `console` module is a built-in module in Node.js that provides functions for printing output to the console. ### Practical Takeaways: * You can install Node.js using the official installer. * You can set up a development environment with VS Code and Node.js. * You can write a simple JavaScript program using modern ES6 syntax. ### Next Steps: In the next topic, we will cover conditionals (if, else, switch) and looping structures (for, while, forEach). You can review the topic and try out the examples to reinforce your understanding. ### Comments and Help: If you have any questions or need help with the lab, please leave a comment below. If you are stuck or need further clarification, please ask for help.