Post 1: Setting Up Your React Environment
Introduction
In this post, we’ll start by setting up the development environment needed to build a BMI calculator using React JS. We’ll also touch on the basics of BMI and why this calculator can be a useful tool.
What is BMI? Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person’s height and weight. The formula is:
BMI is often used to categorize individuals into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese categories, which can help identify potential health risks.
Step 1: Installing Node.js and npm
First, ensure you have Node.js and npm installed. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime, and npm is the package manager that comes with it.
- Install Node.js and npm:
- Visit Node.js official website.
- Download and install the LTS version, which includes npm.
- Verify the installation:
- Open your terminal or command prompt.
- Run the following commands to check if Node.js and npm are installed
node -v
npm -vStep 2: Create a New React Project
Now, we’ll create a new React project using the create-react-app command, which sets up everything you need to start a React application.
- Create the project:
- Run the following command in your terminal:
npx create-react-app bmi-calculatorThis will create a new directory named bmi-calculator with all the necessary files.
Navigate into your project:
cd bmi-calculatorStep 3: Running the Development Server
Once the project is set up, you can start the development server and see your app in action.
- Start the server:
npm start- View the app:
- Open a browser and go to
http://localhost:3000/. - You should see the default React welcome screen.
- Open a browser and go to
Conclusion
In this post, you’ve set up the development environment for your React project. You’ve also created a new React application that’s ready for development. In the next post, we’ll start building the UI for our BMI calculator.