How To Install And Run React JS In Visual Studio Code

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React Js in visual studio

React Js in visual studio:- If you’re looking to dive into web development, setting up a React JS application in Visual Studio Code is a great start. This guide will take you step-by-step through downloading, installing, and running a React app, ensuring you have everything you need to get going smoothly. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional React app running right in your Visual Studio Code editor.

Prerequisites: Installing Node.js

The first step in our journey is to install Node.js. Node.js is essential because it provides the runtime environment and package manager (npm) that React relies on. Here’s how to get it set up:

Visit the Node.js official website.
Click on the download link suitable for your operating system.
Follow the installation prompts to install Node.js on your machine.

Once you’ve installed Node.js, open your terminal and check the installation by typing:

node -v

This command will display the installed version of Node.js. Confirm that it’s working before proceeding.

Installing Visual Studio Code

Next up, we need an editor to write our code, and Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is an excellent choice:

Download Visual Studio Code from the official site.
Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

After installation, open VS Code and ensure everything is set up correctly.

Creating Your First React App

With Node.js and Visual Studio Code installed, it’s time to create our React application:

Open the terminal in Visual Studio Code.
Run the following command to create a new React app:

npx create-react-app my-app

This command sets up a new directory called my-app with all the necessary files and dependencies.
Once the installation is complete, navigate into your project directory:

cd my-app

Running Your React Application

Now that your React app is created, let’s run it:

In the terminal, ensure you’re in the my-app directory.
Start the development server by running:

npm start

Your React app should now be running on http://localhost:3000. Open this URL in your web browser to see the default React welcome page.

Understanding the Project Structure

Once your app is running, it’s essential to understand the project structure:

node_modules: This folder contains all the dependencies required for your React app.
public: Here you’ll find static files like index.html, which is the main entry point for your app.
src: This is where you’ll write most of your code. The App.js file is the core of your application.

For example, you can open src/App.js and modify the text inside. If you change the text to “Hello Everyone” and save, refreshing the browser will display your changes.

Creating Components in React

Components are the building blocks of a React application. Let’s create a simple component:

Create a new folder named components inside the src directory.
Create a new file named Greeting.js inside the components folder.
To quickly generate a boilerplate code for a functional component, use the ES7 React/Redux/React-Native snippets extension. Install it from the Extensions view in VS Code.
In Greeting.js, write:

import React from 'react';

const Greeting = () => {
    return

Hello from Greeting Component!

;
};

export default Greeting;

Using Your Component

Now, let’s use the Greeting component in your main App.js file:

Import the Greeting component at the top of src/App.js:

import Greeting from './components/Greeting';

Then, include it in the return statement of the App component:

function App() {
    return (


    );
}

After saving your changes, refresh your browser, and you should see “Hello from Greeting Component!” displayed on the page.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully set up a React application in Visual Studio Code. You learned how to install Node.js, create a new React app, and build a simple component. With this foundation, you can now start developing more complex applications using React.

Happy coding!