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step01.md

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Step 1 - Set up your first project

Often when creating a project, you might be installing lots of different things along the way.

If you wish to share your project with others, it would be useful to have a list of the things you installed in one file, so that other people's machines know what to install, in order to run it.

This 'list' file is called a package.json. The 'things you've installed' are referred to as npm packages

1. Make a package.json file

Let's start by creating the package.json now. Then we can add things to it as the project grows.

Type the following command to start creating the package.json:

npm init

This initialises a step-by-step process to putting the package.json together.

You should see this: starting npm init

name

  • npm suggests a default name for your project in brackets. If you want to give it your own name, just type it next to the brackets and press Enter.
  • If you're happy with the name in brackets, simply press Enter.

version

  • This is your first project, so it will be version 1.0.0! Nothing to change here, so press Enter.

description

  • A simple description of your project. Write whatever you want and press Enter.

entry point

  • This file will be the starting point for your whole project.
  • Let's change this from (index.js) to server.js, as we will be building a server later on!
  • Type server.js and press Enter.

test command

  • Skip this one for now... press Enter.

git repository

  • This is where your project would live on GitHub. Press Enter.

keywords

  • (Optional) You can add keywords to help people find your project if they search for it.

author

  • It's your project, so write your name! You can use your GitHub name or your actual name.

license

  • You can add a license, but we'll skip this.

You will see a confirmation of your package.json. If you're happy with it, press Enter to finish making it.

Don't worry if you've made a mistake, your mentor can help you.

package.json confirmation

Great! You should now see a new file called package.json.


Commit your changes

git add .
git commit -m 'enter relevant message'

Keywords