📝 Document development environment

docs/tutorial/development-environment.md

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+# Developer Environment
+
+Electron development is essentially Node.js development. To turn your operating
+system into an environment capable of building desktop apps with Electron,
+you will merely need Node.js, npm, a code editor of your choice, and a
+rudimentary understanding of your operating system's command line client.
+
+## Setting up macOS
+
+> Electron supports Mac OS X 10.9 (and all versions named macOS) and up. Apple does
+not allow running macOS in virtual machines unless the host computer is already
+an Apple computer, so if you find yourself in need of a Mac, consider using a
+cloud service that rents access to Macs (like [MacInCloud][macincloud] or
+[xcloud](https://xcloud.me)).
+
+First, install a recent version of Node.js. We recommend that you install
+either the latest `LTS` or `Current` version available. Visit
+[the Node.js download page][node-download] and select the `macOS Installer`.
+Once downloaded, execute the installer and let the installation wizard guide
+you through the installation.
+
+Once installed, confirm that everything works as expected. Find the macOS
+`Terminal` application in your `/Applications/Utilities` folder (or by
+simply search for the word `Terminal` in Spotlight). Open up `Terminal`
+or another command line client of your choice and confirm that both `node`
+and `npm` are available:
+
+```sh
+# This command should print the version of Node.js
+node -v
+
+# This command should print the version of npm
+npm -v
+```
+
+If both commands printed a version number, you are all set! Before you get
+started, you might want to install a [code editor](#a-good-editor) suited
+for JavaScript development.
+
+## Setting up Windows
+
+> Electron supports Windows 7 and later versions – attempting to develop Electron
+applications on earlier versions of Windows will not work. Microsoft provides
+free [virtual machine images with Windows 10][windows-vm] for developers.
+
+First, install a recent version of Node.js. We recommend that you install
+either the latest `LTS` or `Current` version available. Visit
+[the Node.js download page][node-download] and select the `Windows Installer`.
+Once downloaded, execute the installer and let the installation wizard guide
+you through the installation.
+
+On the screen that allows you to configure the installation, make sure to
+select the `Node.js runtime`, `npm package manager`, and `Add to PATH`
+options.
+
+Once installed, confirm that everything works as expected. Find the Windows
+PowerShell by simply opening the Start Menu and typing `PowerShell`. Open
+up `PowerShell` or another command line client of your choice and confirm that
+both `node` and `npm` are available:
+
+```powershell
+# This command should print the version of Node.js
+node -v
+
+# This command should print the version of npm
+npm -v
+```
+
+If both commands printed a version number, you are all set! Before you get
+started, you might want to install a [code editor](#a-good-editor) suited
+for JavaScript development.
+
+## Setting up Linux
+
+> Generally speaking, Electron supports Ubuntu 12.04, Fedora 21, Debian 8
+and later.
+
+First, install a recent version of Node.js. Depending on your Linux
+distribution, the installation steps might differ. Assuming that you normally
+install software using a package manager like `apt` or `pacman`, use the
+official [Node.js guidance on installing on Linux][node-package].
+
+You're running Linux, so you likely already know how to operate a command line
+client. Open up your favorite client and confirm that both `node` and `npm`
+are available globally:
+
+```sh
+# This command should print the version of Node.js
+node -v
+
+# This command should print the version of npm
+npm -v
+```
+
+If both commands printed a version number, you are all set! Before you get
+started, you might want to install a [code editor](#a-good-editor) suited
+for JavaScript development.
+
+## A Good Editor
+
+We might suggest two free popular editors built in Electron:
+GitHub's [Atom][atom] and Microsoft's [Visual Studio Code][code]. Both of
+them have excellent JavaScript support.
+
+If you are one of the many developers with a strong preference, know that
+virtually all code editors and IDEs these days support JavaScript.
+
+[macincloud]: https://www.macincloud.com/
+[xcloud]: https://xcloud.me
+[node-download]: https://nodejs.org/en/download/
+[node-package]: https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/
+[atom]: https://atom.io/
+[code]: https://code.visualstudio.com/
+[windows-vm]: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/virtual-machines