Seamlessly Upgrade Your Dev Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide to React 17 Installation

As a developer, keeping your skills up-to-date is crucial for staying relevant in the ever-evolving tech landscape. One of the key skills for front-end developers today is proficiency in React. With the release of React 17, it's time to gear up and upgrade. This guide will walk you through the process of installing React 17 so you can start taking advantage of the latest features.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the following installed on your system:

• Node.js (>= 10.0.0)
• npm (comes with Node.js)

You can check the versions by running the following commands:

node --version
npm --version

Step 1: Creating a New React App

To create a new React app using React 17, you'll need to use the Create React App (CRA) tool. Run the following command in your terminal:

npx create-react-app my-react17-app

This will create a new directory called my-react17-app with all the necessary files and configurations for a React 17 project.

Step 2: Verifying React Version

Once the installation is complete, navigate to your new app's directory:

cd my-react17-app

Check your React version by looking at the package.json file:

cat package.json

You should see the React version listed under dependencies:

{
  ...
  "dependencies": {
    "react": "^17.0.0",
    "react-dom": "^17.0.0",
    ...
  },
  ...
}

Step 3: Running Your React App

To start your React 17 application, run the following command:

npm start

This command starts the development server and opens your new React app in the default web browser. You should see the React logo and a welcome message indicating that the app is running successfully.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you have now successfully installed React 17 and created a new project. You're all set to explore the new features and improvements that React 17 brings to the table. Happy coding!