Experience with the commissioning of the superconducting stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

•Present status of W7-X assembly.•Preparation of commissioning.•Recent results of commission.•Further step in the commissioning of W7-X.•Lessens learned. The super-conducting stellarator Wendelstein 7-X is presently under construction at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany. Assembly of the device is almost completed and the periphery systems and the diagnostic and heating systems are well advanced. Commissioning of the device has been prepared over the last 2 years and has started in April 2014. This is the first time since decades that a superconducting fusion device is commissioned in Europe.