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To improve the update speed and iteration of your web app calculator, you can definitely build and debug it locally using VSCode. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Step 1: Set Up VSCode for Local Development

1. Install VSCode: Make sure you have VSCode installed on your computer.

2. Install Live Server Extension:

   • Open VSCode.
   • Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
   • Search for “Live Server” and install it. This extension allows you to launch a local development server with live reload.

Step 2: Set Up Your Project

1. Open Your Project:
   • Open VSCode.
   • Select File > Open Folder... and choose the folder containing your project files.
2. Create Project Structure: Ensure your project structure looks something like this:

   your-project-folder/
   ├── assets/
   │   └── js/
   │       └── script.js
   ├── index.html
   └── styles/
       └── style.css
   

Step 3: Run Live Server

1. Launch Live Server:
   • Right-click on your index.html file in VSCode’s Explorer pane.
   • Select Open with Live Server. This will start a local server and open your app in the default web browser.
   • Alternatively, you can click the “Go Live” button in the bottom-right corner of VSCode.

Step 4: Debugging in VSCode

1. Inspect and Debug:
   • With Live Server running, you can inspect and debug your code directly in the browser’s developer tools (usually opened by pressing F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I).
   • Set breakpoints, step through your code, and see console outputs in real-time.
2. Modify and Save:
   • Make changes to your HTML, CSS, or JavaScript files in VSCode.
   • Save the files, and the Live Server will automatically reload the browser to reflect your changes.

Example: Debugging the “Excellent” Scenario Issue

1. Check JavaScript for Errors:
   • Open script.js in VSCode.
   • Set breakpoints on lines where you define and use scenarioVector, especially in the selectScenario function.
2. Add Console Logs:
   • Add console.log statements to check the values of variables and the flow of execution.

     function selectScenario(scenario) {
     console.log("Selected scenario: ", scenario); // Log the selected scenario
     switch (scenario) {
       case 'excellent':
         scenarioVector = [1, 0, 0, 0, 0];
         break;
       case 'verygood':
         scenarioVector = [0, 1, 0, 0, 0];
         break;
       case 'good':
         scenarioVector = [0, 0, 1, 0, 0];
         break;
       case 'fair':
         scenarioVector = [0, 0, 0, 1, 0];
         break;
       case 'poor':
         scenarioVector = [0, 0, 0, 0, 1];
         break;
       default:
         scenarioVector = [0, 0, 1, 0, 0]; // Set default to 'good'
     }
     console.log("Scenario vector: ", scenarioVector); // Log the scenario vector
     calculateMortalityRisk(scenario); // Pass selected scenario to calculateMortalityRisk
     }
     

3. Verify Event Listener:
   • Ensure the event listener is correctly attached and functioning.

     document.getElementById("scenario-dropdown").addEventListener("change", function() {
     console.log("Dropdown changed"); // Log when the dropdown changes
     selectScenario(this.value);
     });
     

By following these steps, you’ll be able to develop and debug your web app more efficiently using VSCode. This setup allows for rapid iteration and immediate feedback, significantly speeding up your development process.