Node Tools is extension for Visual Studio which provides support for editing and debugging node.js applications.
Node.js Tools on Visual Studio Gallery
Node Tools package extends Visual Studio project system by njsproj type. Project templates can be found in the New Project dialog under JavaScript -> Web subcategory.
Node Tools brings full debugging capability for a node.js applications. You navigate thought stacktraces (backtraces), change variable values, set conditional breakpoints and breaks on JavaScript exceptions.
Since npm is a standard de-facto for node.js modules Node Tools provides special console window for a package management purposes. So you can easily type usual commands inside of Visual Studio.
Also do not forget about regular nuget packages which can allow your scripts be up to date. Just use Nuget Package Manager dialog or console window.
Installation process is really straightforward:
- Install package inside Visual Studio by typing "Node Tools" in the Extensions and Updates dialog or download it from Visual Studio Gallery page
- Download & install node.js installer from the download page
- Download & extract archive with a node.js source code from the download page
Node Tools can automatically determine node.exe interpreter location, but if you want to launch concrete node.js interpreter version you can do that by click on Tools -> Options menu in the Node.js Tools dialog. Here you can change following settings:
- Node.js location
- Node.js startup parameters
Currently to provide Visual Studio ability to navigate throught stacktraces during debugging session you should:
- Open properties dialog from the solution context menu
- Select Debug Source Files under Common Properties category
- Add to list src and lib folders from the extracted node.js source code archive (see installation section)
By default node.js lunched to accept debigging sessions on the port 5858. You can customize that at the project settings. Here you can change following settings:
- Debug port
- Startup file
Your feedback is very welcome. Please feel free to create issues and write you comments.
If you want to provide code contribution please fork this repository and create a pull request.
- Clone this repository and open NodeTools.sln
- Set NodeTools project as startup and open project properties
- In the Debug screen check Start external program and choose devenv.exe path
- Also in the Command line arguments set /RootSuffix Exp
Project source code is licensed under Apache 2.0. It contains portions of code from Microsoft Corporation and Outercurve Foundation.