This is a guide for configuring your local machine for general web development.
Prerequisites
Understanding the difference between React and Node.js is crucial:
- React: A front-end JavaScript library for building user interfaces and UI components. It renders UI components, manages state, and runs in the browser.
- Node.js: A back-end JavaScript runtime environment for building server-side applications. It handles server-side logic, HTTP requests, and database interactions.
In essence, React handles the UI while Node.js handles server-side logic. Together, they complement each other in full-stack JavaScript web development.
General steps
- Choose an operating system: Linux, Windows or MacOS all work well.
- Install a code editor: VS Code.
- Set up a web server stack: Install Apache, Nginx or IIS.
- Pick frontend frameworks: React, Angular, Vue.js are popular choices.
- Database systems: Install MySQL, MongoDB or alternatives you need for your projects.
- Debugging tools: Browser DevTools, console logs and debuggers help fix issues in code.
- Project templates: Use boilerplates, starters and templates to quick start projects and standardize structure.
- Build and deployment tools: Webpack, Grunt, Gulp automate optimization and deployment.
Incorporating Node.js
Follow these steps to incorporate Node.js into your web development setup:
- Install Node.js on your machine if you haven’t already.
- Make sure you have a code editor that supports Node.js development out of the box, like VS Code or Atom.
- Learn the basics of Node.js - how to run JavaScript code outside the browser, the module system, asynchronous programming, npm for package management, etc.
- Optionally install a Node.js framework like Express or Fastify if you plan to build web applications. They make creating web servers and APIs easier.
- For the backend or server side of your web projects, use Node.js instead of something like PHP or Ruby. Design your server architecture with Node.js handling HTTP requests, routing, talking to databases, etc.
- Use npm to install useful Node.js libraries and tools for tasks like authentication, database access, performance monitoring, etc. Avoid reinventing the wheel.
- Use Node.js for build tools and automations tasks with build tools like Gulp, Grunt or Webpack. These can be configured via npm.
- Deploy Node.js apps to hosting platforms like Heroku, AWS, Azure etc. Many provide quick onboarding for Node.js apps.