Local testing guide for a React project from GitHub using Visual Studio
If you’re new to coding, trying out a React project from GitHub might sound a little tricky—but don’t worry! This tutorial will guide you step by step, showing you exactly how to get the project running on your own computer. We’ll cover the basics like installing the right tools, downloading the project, opening it in Visual Studio Code, and running it so you can see it in your browser. By the end, you’ll have a React app working locally and you’ll feel more confident exploring other projects online.
Beginner’s Guide to Running a React Project Locally
If you’re new to coding, trying out a React project from GitHub might sound a little tricky—but don’t worry! This tutorial will guide you step by step, showing you exactly how to get the project running on your own computer.
1. Install Node.js
Think of Node.js as the engine that lets you run JavaScript code on your computer instead of just inside a web browser. React projects rely on it to build and manage tools. Running the installer will also automatically install npm (Node Package Manager).
Download Node.js2. Get the Code from GitHub
Navigate to the GitHub page of the project you want to try. Click the green Code button near the top right, and select Download ZIP. Once it finishes downloading, locate the ZIP file on your computer and extract (unzip) it into a folder where you like to keep your projects.
3. Open the Folder in VS Code
Open Visual Studio Code. Go to the top menu and select File > Open Folder. Navigate to the unzipped folder you just created and select it. You should see the project files (like package.json, src, and public) appear in the left-hand sidebar.
4. Open the Integrated Terminal
Instead of opening a separate command prompt, you can use the terminal built right into VS Code. Go to the top menu and click Terminal > New Terminal. A panel will slide up showing that you are successfully standing inside your project’s exact folder.
5. Install the Dependencies
React applications use a lot of tiny helper libraries (dependencies). Rather than bundling thousands of files into GitHub, the project author leaves a shopping list called package.json.
In your terminal, type the following command and hit Enter:
npm installThis reads that shopping list and downloads everything into a new folder called node_modules.
What is Node_Modules?
After running this command, you’ll see a massive folder appear. Never edit files in here! This is just the engine room where npm stores the libraries required to make your app run.
6. Launch the Development Server
Now that the parts are downloaded, it’s time to turn it on. Look inside your package.json file under the "scripts" section to see how to start it. Modern React projects usually use one of two commands. Type this into your terminal and press Enter:
npm run dev(Note: If the project is a bit older, try npm start instead).
7. View Your App Live
Once the terminal says the server is running, open your web browser and navigate to the address shown, typically http://localhost:5173 or http://localhost:3000.
Any changes you make to the code in VS Code will instantly update right here in the browser!
Pro Tip: How to Stop the App
When you are done exploring, go to your VS Code terminal and press Ctrl + C to safely shut down the server.
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