Basic React App

A simple React application that displays "Hello world".

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need to install Node.js on your computer. Node.js includes npm (Node Package Manager), which is used to install project dependencies.

Step 1: Install Node.js

macOS

Option A: Download from website

1. Go to https://nodejs.org
2. Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version
3. Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the installation wizard

Option B: Using Homebrew (if you have Homebrew installed)

brew install node

Windows

1. Go to https://nodejs.org
2. Download the LTS version for Windows
3. Run the .msi installer
4. Follow the installation wizard (keep all default options)
5. Restart your computer after installation

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

Step 2: Verify Installation

Open a terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows) and run:

node --version
npm --version

You should see version numbers printed (e.g., v20.10.0 and 10.2.3). If you see these, Node.js and npm are installed correctly.

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Getting Started

Step 3: Navigate to the Project Folder

Open a terminal and navigate to the project directory:

cd path/to/basic-react-app

Replace path/to/basic-react-app with the actual path where this project is located on your computer.

Step 4: Install Dependencies

Run the following command to install all required packages:

npm install

This will read the package.json file and download all necessary dependencies into a node_modules folder.

Step 5: Start the Development Server

Run:

npm run dev

You should see output similar to:

VITE v5.x.x  ready in XXX ms

➜  Local:   http://localhost:3001/
➜  Network: use --host to expose

Step 6: View the App

Open your web browser and go to:

http://localhost:3001

You should see "Hello world" displayed on the page!

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Available Commands

Command	Description
npm run dev	Start the development server
npm run build	Build the app for production
npm run preview	Preview the production build locally

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Stopping the Server

To stop the development server, go back to your terminal and press Ctrl + C.

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Troubleshooting

"command not found: node" or "command not found: npm"

• Node.js is not installed or not in your PATH
• Try restarting your terminal or computer after installation
• Reinstall Node.js from https://nodejs.org

Port already in use

• Vite will automatically try another port (e.g., 5174, 5175)
• Check the terminal output for the correct URL

Permission errors on npm install

• On macOS/Linux, avoid using sudo with npm
• If needed, fix npm permissions: https://docs.npmjs.com/resolving-eacces-permissions-errors