Getting Started – A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Start with a single template to minimize setup and get results fast; open a hello-rust project, then verify it runs by fetching a tiny asset with curl.

Install the runtime and an editor, then pick a target platform and set the initial versions to avoid compatibility issues. after setup, you have a stable starting point, and you can add more tools as you grow.

Follow a lean flow: after you install Rust, create a new project with cargo new hello, add a tiny main that prints a line, and run cargo run. If you pull dependencies, pin them to a small versions set from libraries to keep builds predictable; then add more functionality as you go.

For networking, use curl with the –tlsv12 flag to ensure secure sessions. Then extend your pattern by adding one module at a time; the template approach and linked tutorials help you keep consistency as you extends your project.

Record outcomes for each case and share it with teammates; this gives you data to compare versions and decide which libraries to lock in. When you encounter a tricky scenario, consult the tutorials and try a lightweight template that you can reuse next. If you need a light moment, ferris_sayssay can help break the monotony.

Check Node.js, npm, and Expo CLI versions on your machine

Run node -v, npm -v, and expo –version in your terminal to confirm your baseline. For example, you might see Node v18.16.0, npm 9.6.0, and Expo CLI 6.3.0. If any are missing or outdated, update them to fit your project’s needs.

nodejs is the runtime you rely on; if outputs differ from your group’s requirements, install or switch versions using a manager like nvm. If you are comfortable, document the results for your documentation so the group stays aligned.

To install Expo CLI globally, run npm install -g expo-cli. You can also use yarn global add expo-cli. The expo binary should be reachable from the terminal as expo. If you want to verify again, run expo –version or npx expo –version.

That quick check helps you avoid issues when building sample apps such as hello-rust. The same commands apply across shells, ensuring consistency for interested teammates.

Use Flags like –version with commands to ensure you’re getting the version, not another message. If you need to inspect the node path, run which node (or where node on Windows) to verify the configured PATH.

If you need to update, download the LTS from nodejs.org or use a package manager. After upgrading, delete old global expo-cli if needed to avoid conflicts. Then run the verification steps again to confirm the new versions are in effect.

For project content like indexhtml files, appprops, and server setups, keep a simple sample in a comfortable directory. Place some line of content into indexhtml to preview web output, then serve the files with a small server to verify delivery. Use sample files in a dedicated server folder, ensure the commands reflect the same results, and move any outdated files to a backup location if necessary.

Create a new Expo managed project with expo init and select a template

Install the Expo CLI and run expo init your-app. When prompted, select the Blank (Managed) template to stay comfortable and focus on the basics; this basic setup includes App.tsx and the necessary config to start quickly, so you’re able to begin right away.

After creation, cd your-app and start the dev server with expo start. Test on a device with the Expo Go app, or press w to open the web preview. This workflow keeps editing fast and lets you learn front-end patterns with immediate feedback. You’ll be able to see changes immediately on your device or in the browser. If you add libraries later, installing them uses expo install to pull the necessary native modules. There is also the option to explore web tooling like vites, but the primary Expo workflow remains focused on the managed project.

Explore the project tree: you will see assets and logos you can replace; create new elements in components; keep your place tidy. Edit App.tsx in your editor to render a simple hello-rust banner or a small case study; even if your background is in other languages, this React Native setup remains approachable. For Android, the entry maps to mainactivity, but you won’t touch it for a basic app; you focus on your JS/TS code. If you switch to web templates, you may encounter indexhtml as the entry reference. Some teams experiment with vites for web builds, but Expo’s tooling handles the workflow here. Your learned patterns grow as you iterate and reflect on what works for your app.

Choosing a template

There are templates to fit different cases: Blank for a fast start, Tabs for navigation, and more. Blank suits most newbies; if you need navigation, choose Tabs or the Tabs (TypeScript) variant. The template choice shapes the initial structure: assets, logos, and a few components, all arranged in a tidy front-end friendly folder. Consider your case and pick the one that matches your plan; you can install additional packages later to extend functionality. If you want to skip extra steps, start with Blank and expand later.

From init to first screen

Open App.tsx in your editor and replace the default content with your own layout. Build a small screen using React Native elements such as View, Text, and Button, and wire up a simple interaction. Place images from the assets folder and reference them in code. Save and let expo start reload changes; soon you will see your UI render with comfortable speed. If you want more ideas, check a blog and scrape snippets from their experiments. You can install libraries like react-navigation later when you need proper navigation.

Install Expo-compatible libraries with expo install to match the SDK

Use expo install to lock each library to a version that matches your Expo SDK. Before you install, confirm your sdkVersion in app.json or app.config.js. Then run expo install to fetch the exact version that aligns with your SDK, so you dont risk runtime linking issues when native modules are involved. The command prints the installed version and the compatible range, and youll see the exact version saved in package.json. For common libraries, run expo install react-native-gesture-handler, expo install @expo/vector-icons, and expo install expo-constants to keep these choices in step with the latest conventions. If you need SVG assets later, you can evaluate vitesvg as part of your web workflow, but install core libraries first to prove the setup works. This approach keeps projects and applications in sync across platforms, and youll know soon enough that the setup is solid. If you need to scrape changelogs or docs, you can compare notes before committing to a specific version, and youll have the choice recommended by Expo here. This fact keeps projects sure of compatibility going forward, and youll see the version saved in package.json.

Within a template project, document the library choices and their linking conventions so new teammates follow the same path. Keep a codelab-monitor template in your Projects folder to track versions and prompting updates, and use external_labels in app.json to label groups for the manager during reviews. If a library is called differently in its repo than in Expo docs, verify the exact package name before installing to avoid common errors.

Common pitfalls

Dont mix npm install and expo install for Expo-managed projects; expo install ensures the library version matches the current SDK. If you see error messages like Cannot find module or Unable to resolve, re-run expo install with the exact package name shown in the error, and then run expo doctor to verify the environment. After installation, run npx pod-install on macOS to update iOS native pods and ensure the linking step completes before you run the app.

Be mindful that libraries can behave differently on web and native platforms. Limit your initial set to libraries that Expo explicitly supports, and verify each addition against the project’s conventions. When prompting updates, test in a separate branch to avoid disrupting ongoing work.

Verification and quick checks

After install, check package.json to confirm the dependency version matches the SDK’s recommended range. Run expo start to launch the dev server and load the app on a device or simulator. If you see runtime errors, review the console for linking notes and verify that the library is listed in the project’s dependencies. For SVG assets, confirm vitesvg renders correctly on the web; test on different devices to ensure consistent behavior within the same code path.

Choose package manager (npm or yarn) and align lockfiles for reproducible installs

Recommandation : Use npm with a locked package-lock.json and run npm ci to reproduce installs exactly as recorded. If you prefer Yarn, switch to yarn install –immutable (ou yarn install –frozen-lockfile in older Yarn) to keep yarn.lock aligned and avoid drift in runtime. Ensure every environment uses the same core tooling version for predictable results.

Lockfile alignment steps: After editing dependencies, run the appropriate install command to refresh the lockfile, then commit it so each instance in your team refers to the same dependency graph. If you work with Prometheus, keep a minimal prometheusrulesyml alongside your manifests and monitor for drift with warnings. This approach helps developers stay aligned; they rely on a single lockfile for every build.

For npm users: Ensure package.json uses a coherent exports map if you publish a module, then run npm ci to install exactly what’s locked. If the lockfile changes, run npm install to refresh and then commit, so every developer refers to a single source of truth. This keeps the dependency graph stable across workloads and reduces startup warnings at runtime.

For Yarn users: Utiliser yarn install –immutable to keep yarn.lock matched with package.json; if you need updates, run yarn install locally, then commit the new lockfile. Treat the dependency graph as a single source of truth across environments to maintain a stable runtime and smooth rendering.

Cross-environment tips: Align Node.js versions (via .nvmrc or .tool-versions) so the runtime stays alike across machines, like those used in CI and local workstations. Use a consistent job_name in CI to rate build health, verify that http endpoints are rendering correctly, and ensure the process prints useful warnings rather than silent failures. For local testing, start the dev server with –weblisten-address=127.0.0.1 to guarantee the host rendering and API calls work in isolation. A little setup here yields stable working results for those teams sharing a workstation instance.

Additional notes: When you run scripts, pass the right argument to specify environment mode; for example, run in production ou development. Keep the words in your docs consistent and refer to instructions for new developers, so onboarding is smooth. The exports field, the dependency graph, and the metrics you collect with prometheus help you see rate changes and stay in control. Remember to refer back to the docs whenever you upgrade tools.

Checklist to refer: Enough alignment with one manager; keep a small set of instructions for new developers, and refer to the shared lockfile as the single source of truth. Monitor with prometheus and ensure the prometheusrulesyml continues to trigger only real issues. Use exports to control package boundaries and verify http endpoints in rendering. If you need more context, refer to the official docs and keep this guide as a living reference for every instance of the project.

Add and pin dependencies with exact versions in package.json

Pin dependencies to exact versions to prevent drift across environments, particularly for javascript applications with rendering pipelines. Run npm install react@18.2.0 –save-exact and commit package.json and package-lock.json to keep the endpoint stable.

Enable exact saves by default to avoid accidental loosening: npm config set save-exact true or add save-exact=true to .npmrc. This helps importing these libraries across teams where tests, CI, and local development must match.

1. Determine exact versions that passed tests: for each package, check the version that passed your test suite; in a case where a dependency changes behavior, pick the version that was verified to work with your rendering stack. When you pull a new release, test quickly and, if it fails, revert to the previously passed version to keep signals stable in the endpoint it serves. navigate down the dependency tree to confirm compatibility, and ensure these choices align with your mainactivity and writing workflows.
2. Install with exact version: npm install react@18.2.0 –save-exact; npm install vite@4.0.0 –save-exact; repeat for each direct dependency you need. This writes exact versions to package.json, avoiding ^ or ~. If you maintain scripts, you can run these commands in a loop; these commands ensure the version you see is the one used by the project.
3. Verify package.json and avoid curly quotes: open package.json and confirm every version string appears as “name”: “x.y.z” without a caret or tilde. Ensure quotes are straight, not curly, to prevent parsing issues in tooling. This check matters in teams where multiple editors handle the file, these small details prevent surprises during installs.
4. Lockfile and CI consistency: package-lock.json captures the exact tree; run npm ci in local and CI to reproduce the same versions. This approach keeps each build aligned with the confirmed set, even if npm fetches a newer release under different rules in other commands. In projects using vites configurations, apply the same pinning discipline to the devDependencies as well.
5. Optional global setting and workflow hygiene: if you want every future save to be exact, set npm config set save-exact true or add a global .npmrc. This reduces drift when adding new packages, helping teams where different developers run installs in parallel. You can document these settings in your contributing guidelines so developers write down the same expectations.

Notes and practical checks

• Documentez les modifications dans un journal des modifications et faites référence aux versions exactes dans prometheusrulesyml afin que vos tableaux de bord de surveillance reflètent les augmentations lorsqu'elles se produisent. Ces enregistrements vous aident à repérer quand une mise à jour de dépendance pourrait affecter les points de terminaison de production.
• Gardez un œil sur le logo React et les actifs d'interface utilisateur associés pour vous assurer que les versions épinglées n'introduisent pas d'incompatibilités de rendu. Si vous travaillez avec des applications qui reposent sur des chemins de rendu spécifiques, confirmez que ces actifs restent compatibles.
• Si vous maintenez des scripts auxiliaires, tels que setcountcount ou ferris_sayssay, alignez-les pour lire les versions épinglées depuis package.json et enregistrez les nombres exacts notés lors de l'installation. Cela facilite les audits et vous aide à retracer ce qui a été déployé.
• Pour les configurations qui nécessitent des signaux de seuil, mettez à jour les fichiers pertinents lorsque vous augmentez une dépendance, et examinez où ces signaux sont consommés par votre outillage. Cette discipline minimise les surprises lors du déploiement et maintient le pipeline stable.
• Si vous travaillez dans un cas où vous devez remplacer les versions transitives, fiez-vous au fichier de verrouillage comme seule source de vérité. Si nécessaire, envisagez npm shrinkwrap pour une application supplémentaire dans une configuration multi-projets et pour les déploiements de longue durée.

Exécutez le projet sur un appareil ou un émulateur et corrigez les problèmes d'installation courants

Connectez l'appareil ou démarrez l'émulateur, puis installez les dépendances et exécutez le projet avec la commande appropriée pour votre plateforme. Vérifiez que l'appareil apparaît avec adb devices (Android) ou que l'émulateur est listé (iOS), puis exécutez npm install et la commande de la plateforme (npx react-native run-android ou npx react-native run-ios). Si vous rencontrez un blocage, vous devrez vérifier les journaux ci-dessous pour connaître l'étape exacte qui a échoué.

Vérifier la préparation de l'appareil

Assurez-vous que l'appareil est déverrouillé, que le débogage USB est autorisé et que l'ordinateur est autorisé. Si l'appareil n'apparaît pas dans la liste des appareils, reconnectez l'USB, changez de câble ou de port et redémarrez le serveur ADB. Confirmez que l'émulateur est en cours d'exécution et accessible avant de passer à l'installation et au premier lancement ; surveillez la sortie de démarrage pour détecter rapidement les blocages.

Liste de contrôle de dépannage et diagnostics

Examinez la sortie de l'installation par rapport à la documentation afin de localiser l'étape défaillante. Recherchez les discordances de configuration entre les points de terminaison ou les hôtes ; mettez à jour la configuration afin que le serveur de développement serve le paquet à l'application en cours d'exécution. Vérifiez la connexion réseau, les paramètres de proxy et toutes les exportations d'environnement qui influencent l'exécution. Si l'application se construit mais cale, inspectez la forme de l'objet et les fragments dans le code de démarrage, et vérifiez que les props corrects sont passés au composant racine lors de l'importation. Lorsque vous voyez des erreurs concernant l'importation de modules, validez les chemins d'importation et leur ordre ; les exportations doivent s'aligner sur la plateforme cible. Utilisez les données du moniteur pour diagnostiquer les performances, par exemple job_instance_modenode_cpu_secondsavg_rate5m peut révéler une pression du processeur sur le backend. Si vous rencontrez un problème de build de production, passez d'abord au point de terminaison de développement, puis relancez le build pour confirmer que le point de terminaison reste disponible. Gardez un œil sur les journaux ci-dessous et consultez la documentation pour toute particularité propre à la plateforme. Le projet de démarrage utilise souvent une petite ressource reactlogo pour vérifier les visuels ; si vous ne la voyez pas, revérifiez le chemin d'importation de la ressource et la configuration du projet hôte. Vous résoudrez la plupart des problèmes d'installation en relançant les étapes d'installation dans le bon ordre et en validant le chemin réseau du projet vers l'appareil.