Foundations: Setup, Mindset, and Your Toolchain 🧰

Before writing a single line of animation code, you need a rock-solid foundation. This chapter establishes the mental models that separate hobbyists from professionals—understanding that great animation isn't about flashy tricks, but about timing, motion, and meaning working in harmony. We'll configure your WordPress environment with BricksBuilder and PhpStorm so that debugging is painless, script loading is predictable, and you're never fighting your tools instead of creating.