2. Prepare your dev environment

Get the dev tools you need

Before you can create a refine app, you need to set up a development environment on your local machine. This includes installing a few tools that you will use to create your project and run key commands to build, develop, and test your site.

Terminal

You will use a terminal (also known as a command line interface) to run these commands and interact with your operating system. You can access the terminal through a local program for your operating system, such as Terminal (MacOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).

In order to run refine applications on your system, you will also need to have Node.js installed. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows developers to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser. It is required to run refine applications because it is a JavaScript-based tool.

To check if you already have a compatible version of Node.js (v.16.0.0 or higher) installed:

1. Launch your terminal and type the following command:

   node -v

2. If you do not have a compatible version of Node.js installed, follow these instructions to install Node.js via the terminal.

Code Editor

In addition to a terminal, you will also need a code editor to write and edit your code. A code editor is a software application that allows you to write and edit code for various programming languages.

info

This tutorial will use VS Code, but you can use any code editor that is compatible with your operating system. Some other popular code editors include Sublime Text, Atom, and Eclipse.

To install a code editor:

1. Download and install the code editor of your choice from the Internet.
2. Follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

Checklist

I am able to access the command line via a terminal.

Node.js has been installed on my device.

I am using a code editor similar to Visual Studio Code.