Quick summary
- This guide will walk you through the process of installing Nx 10, ensuring a smooth and efficient setup for your projects.
- It will then generate a basic workspace structure with a sample application and library.
- You have successfully installed Nx 10 and are ready to experience the benefits of a modern, efficient development workflow.
Are you ready to supercharge your development workflow with Nx, the powerful build system and developer tools from Nrwl? Nx 10 is packed with new features and improvements, making it the ideal choice for building complex applications at scale. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Nx 10, ensuring a smooth and efficient setup for your projects.
Prerequisites
Before diving into the installation process, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:
- Node.js: Nx 10 requires Node.js version 14 or higher. You can download the latest version from [https://nodejs.org/](https://nodejs.org/).
- NPM or Yarn: Nx relies on either NPM or Yarn as a package manager. If you haven’t already, install the package manager of your choice.
Installing Nx 10
Now, let’s install Nx 10. There are two primary methods:
1. Using the Nx CLI:
This is the simplest and recommended way to install Nx. Open your terminal and run the following command:
“`bash
npm install -g @nrwl/cli
“`
This command installs the Nx CLI globally, allowing you to use it from any directory.
2. Manually Installing Nx:
If you prefer a manual approach, you can install Nx directly into your project. Navigate to your project directory in the terminal and run:
“`bash
npm install @nrwl/nx –save-dev
“`
This command installs Nx as a development dependency in your project.
Creating Your First Nx Workspace
Once Nx is installed, you can create your first workspace:
“`bash
npx create-nx-workspace my-workspace
“`
This command will prompt you to choose a workspace name, a language (e.g., JavaScript, TypeScript), and other options. It will then generate a basic workspace structure with a sample application and library.
Exploring the Nx Workspace Structure
The generated Nx workspace will have a directory structure that promotes modularity and organization. Here are some key folders:
- apps: Contains your applications.
- libs: Holds your reusable libraries.
- tools: Houses custom tools and scripts.
- workspace.json: Defines the configuration for your Nx workspace.
- nx.json: Contains the core configuration for Nx.
Building and Running Your First Project
Nx provides a unified build system for your entire workspace. To build your project, simply run:
“`bash
nx build my-app
“`
Replace `my-app` with the name of your application. To run your application, use:
“`bash
nx serve my-app
“`
Utilizing the Power of Nx
Nx offers a wide range of features to streamline your development process:
- Code Generation: Generate new applications, libraries, components, and other code artifacts with ease.
- Task Execution: Run tasks like building, testing, and deploying across your workspace.
- Caching: Nx caches build results to speed up subsequent builds.
- Dependency Management: Maintain consistent dependencies across your workspace.
- Code Sharing: Share code efficiently between applications and libraries.
- Testing: Run tests for your applications and libraries.
Extending Nx with Plugins
Nx is highly extensible through plugins. Plugins allow you to add support for new technologies, frameworks, and tools. You can find a wide range of community-developed plugins on the Nx website.
Taking Nx to the Next Level
For advanced use cases, Nx offers additional features:
- Remote Execution: Run tasks on remote machines for faster build times.
- Workspaces: Manage multiple Nx workspaces within a single project.
- Cloud Integration: Integrate Nx with cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.
- Custom Generators: Create your own custom code generators.
The Final Chapter: Embracing the Nx Ecosystem
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Nx 10 and are ready to experience the benefits of a modern, efficient development workflow. Nx empowers you to build complex applications with confidence, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and performance.
Common Questions and Answers
1. What are the benefits of using Nx?
Nx offers numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Development Speed: Nx speeds up builds and tests by leveraging caching and parallel execution.
- Enhanced Code Organization: Nx promotes modularity and code reuse through its workspace structure.
- Scalability: Nx scales seamlessly with large projects, enabling efficient development and maintenance.
- Integration with Popular Tools: Nx seamlessly integrates with popular tools and frameworks like Angular, React, and Next.js.
2. Can I use Nx with existing projects?
Yes, you can easily migrate existing projects to Nx. Nx provides tools to help you convert your project structure and configure Nx for your existing codebase.
3. What are some examples of Nx plugins?
Nx has a vibrant plugin ecosystem. Some popular plugins include:
- @nrwl/angular: Provides support for Angular projects.
- @nrwl/react: Adds support for React projects.
- @nrwl/next: Enables building Next.js applications with Nx.
- @nrwl/cypress: Integrates Cypress for testing.
4. How can I contribute to Nx?
Nx is an open-source project. You can contribute by:
- Reporting Issues: Report bugs and suggest improvements.
- Submitting Pull Requests: Contribute code to the project.
- Developing Plugins: Create plugins to extend Nx’s functionality.
5. Where can I find more resources on Nx?
The official Nx website ([https://nx.dev/](https://nx.dev/)) is a great resource for documentation, tutorials, and community discussions. You can also find numerous articles, videos, and blog posts online.