How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE


Written by - Steve Alila
Reviewed by - Deepak Prasad

Learning how to use Node.js with sublime text IDE version 3 enables you to enjoy the efficiency of the IDE. Apart from developing applications quickly, Sublime Text lets you run over 20+ programming languages on it.

First, you will learn how (Ubuntu) Linux installs packages. Next, you will install Node.js from the source. Then, install Sublime Text 3 and run Node.js on the IDE. What is more?

Find out below.

 

Getting started - Using Node.js with sublime text IDE

This section teaches how packages get installed on (Ubuntu) Linux to ease debugging Node.js or Sublime Text download-related issues.

Linux distributes installation files as packages. A package manager collects the package containing the target program and its dependencies (installed separately).

The most user-friendly package manager for Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu is the apt (Advanced Package Tool). Its alternatives are apt-get and dpkg.

apt traces the packages in the distribution's list of repositories. Besides, you can gather the packages from their respective repositories and add them to the package manager's list of repositories stored in /etc/apt/sources.list or /etc/apt/sources.list.d files.

Apart from apt, the application itself could have a package manager. For instance, Node.js has npm (Node package manager) for installing and uninstalling packages. Also, you can use nvm (Node Version Manager) to manage various Node.js versions on your system.

Here is how to use the package managers.

 

Step-1: Install Node.js

Does Node.js exist?

We can check the binaries.

which node
which npm

or Node.js and npm versions.

node -v
npm -v

Output

If none of the above methods locates Node.js or npm, you have not installed Node.js on your machine.

user@hostname:~$ which node
user@hostname:~$ which npm
user@hostname:~$ node -v
Command 'node' not found, but can be installed with:
sudo apt install nodejs
user@hostname:~$ npm -v
Command 'npm' not found, but can be installed with:
sudo apt install npm

Let's install Node.js right away.

 

Install Node.js from the source

Here, we will install Node.js from the source  because it allows us to choose a Node.js version to install.

Update and upgrade the system in readiness for a new installation.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Download Node.js v18 and above from the sources.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -

The system adds the sources to the repositories.

# Adding the NodeSource signing key to your keyring...

+ curl -s https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource.gpg.key | gpg --dearmor | tee /usr/share/keyrings/nodesource.gpg >/dev/null
gpg: WARNING: unsafe ownership on homedir '/home/user/.gnupg'

## Creating apt sources list file for the NodeSource Node.js 18.x repo...

+ echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_18.x jammy main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list
+ echo 'deb-src [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_18.x jammy main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list

Then, it updates the repositories before telling us how to install Node.js on the system.

## Run `sudo apt-get install -y nodejs` to install Node.js 18.x and npm
## You may also need development tools to build native addons:
     sudo apt-get install gcc g++ make
## To install the Yarn package manager, run:
     curl -sL https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/pubkey.gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/yarnkey.gpg >/dev/null
     echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/yarnkey.gpg] https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yarn.list
     sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install yarn

Let's install Node.js using the specified command.

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

If your system lacks the curl tool, install it with this command.

sudo apt install curl

Verify the installation by checking node and npm versions.

node -v
npm -v

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

Now that we have installed Node.js, we can install Sublime Text before learning how to use Node.js with sublime text IDE.

 

Step-2: Install Sublime Text IDE

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Import the GPG keys for Sublime Text 3.

curl -fsSL https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | sudo apt-key add

Get the Sublime Text repository.

sudo add-apt-repository "deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/"

Now install Sublime text from the Ubuntu repositories.

sudo apt install sublime-text

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

We can find Sublime Text in the Applications or search it using the Activities menu.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

Step-4: Develop a simple Node.js application using Sublime Text IDE

In this section, you will learn how to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE by building a simple web server.

Let's do this!

 

4.1 Create a project directory and open it with Sublime Text

Make the project directory and script file.

$ mkdir nodeServer
$ touch nodeServer/index.js

Now open the project in Sublime Text.

subl nodeServer

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

4.2 Run Node.js in Sublime Text

Access the Command Palette using the shortcut: ctrl+shift+p.

Search Package Control Install Package by typing: pkgctl.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

We get a confirmation message.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

Click OK, then reopen the Command Palette and search Install Package.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

Search for Nodejs and click on it to install it on Sublime Text.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

Lastly, modify the Node.js run command by visiting Preferences -> Package Settings -> Nodejs -> Settings - User

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

and changing the value of "node_command": false

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

to "node_command": "/usr/local/bin/node".

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

Now we can build a Node.js program from Sublime Text using the shortcut: ctrl+b. First, let's create the web server.

 

4.3 Create and run a web server on Sublime Text

Update the index.js file with the following content.

const { createServer } =  require("http")

const server = createServer( (request, response) => {
    if (request.url === "/") 
    response.end("Hello hello! Now you know how to use Node.js with sublime text IDE on Ubuntu 22.04")
})

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 8000

server.listen(PORT, console.log(`The server runs on http://localhost:${PORT}`))

We import the http module's createServer() function and use it to create the web server, which listens for requests on port 8000.

On running the script file (ctrl+b), the terminal interface echoes The server runs on http://localhost:8000.

How to use Node.js with Sublime Text IDE

 

We can visit the / URL and see whether the page reads Hello hello! Now you know how to use Node.js with sublime text IDE on Ubuntu 22.04, as we have specified in the code.

Copy and run the URL on any browser's search bar.

How to use Node.js with sublime text IDE

And voila, we get the expected response!

 

Conclusion

This tutorial taught you how to use Node.js with sublime text IDE. You installed Node.js and Sublime Text 3 on Ubuntu 22.04. Then configured Sublime Text to run Node.js without leaving the IDE. Lastly, you built a web server on the IDE.

It is your turn to practice the Sublime shortcuts and enjoy building Node.js applications on the IDE.

 

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Steve Alila

He specializes in web design, WordPress development, and data analysis, with proficiency in Python, JavaScript, and data extraction tools. Additionally, he excels in web API development, AI integration, and data presentation using Matplotlib and Plotly. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or check his projects on GitHub page.

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