Introduction

Angular CLI (Command Line Interface) is a powerful tool that allows developers to create, manage, and deploy Angular applications effortlessly. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just getting started with Angular, this article will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to install Angular CLI and use it to streamline your development process.

1. What is Angular CLI?

Angular CLI is a command-line tool provided by the Angular team that helps in initializing, developing, testing, and deploying Angular applications. It abstracts away the complex configuration and setup tasks, enabling developers to focus on writing code and building features. Angular CLI streamlines the development process and provides various utilities to make Angular development more efficient.

2. Prerequisites for Installation

Before installing Angular CLI, you need to have the following prerequisites in place:

Node.js: Angular CLI is built on top of Node.js, so you must have it installed on your system.
NPM: The Node Package Manager (NPM) is also required, which comes bundled with Node.js.

3. Installing Node.js

To install Node.js, follow these steps:

Visit the official Node.js website at https://nodejs.org/.
Download the latest stable version of Node.js for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

4. Verifying Node.js and NPM Installation

Once Node.js is installed, you can verify the installation by opening a terminal or command prompt and running the following commands:

node -v

npm -v

If the versions of Node.js and NPM are displayed, you have successfully installed Node.js.

5. Installing Angular CLI

With Node.js and NPM in place, you can now proceed with the installation of Angular CLI. Open your terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:

npm install -g @angular/cli

This command will install Angular CLI globally on your system.

6. Verifying Angular CLI Installation

To ensure that Angular CLI is installed correctly, run the following command:

ng version

You should see the installed version of Angular CLI along with other relevant details.

7. Creating a New Angular Project

Now that Angular CLI is installed, you can start a new Angular project with the following command:

ng new my-angular-app

Replace my-angular-app with the desired name for your project. Angular CLI will generate a new project with the basic structure and necessary files.

8. Understanding Project Structure

Angular CLI sets up the project structure in a specific way to promote best practices. The main files and folders in your project include:

src: This folder contains the source code of your application.
node_modules: This folder contains all the project dependencies installed via NPM.
angular.json: This configuration file holds various settings for your Angular project.
package.json: This file defines the project's dependencies and scripts.
tsconfig.json: This file contains TypeScript compiler options.

9. Serving the Angular Application

To view your Angular application in the browser, run the following command:

cd my-angular-app

ng serve

This will compile your application and serve it locally. Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:4200/ to see your app in action.

10. Generating Components, Services, and Modules

Angular CLI provides convenient commands for generating different parts of your application. For example:

To generate a new component, use: ng generate component my-component
To generate a new service, use: ng generate service my-service
To generate a new module, use: ng generate module my-module

These commands will create the corresponding files with boilerplate code, making your development faster and more efficient.

11. Building the Angular Application

When you're ready to deploy your application to a production environment, build it using the following command:

ng build --prod

The build artifacts will be stored in the dist/ directory, ready to be deployed to a web server.

12. Optimizing and Testing

Angular CLI offers various optimization options to reduce the size and improve the performance of your application. Additionally, you can write unit tests and end-to-end tests for your Angular application using tools like Jasmine and Protractor.

13. Deploying the Angular Application

To deploy your Angular application to a web server or a cloud platform, you need to upload the contents of the dist/ directory generated during the build process. Various hosting providers support Angular applications, making it easy to deploy your app globally.

14. Upgrading Angular CLI

As the Angular framework evolves, so does Angular CLI. To keep up with the latest features and bug fixes, you can update Angular CLI using the following command:

ng update @angular/cli

This will update Angular CLI to the latest version.

15. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering issues while using Angular CLI is not uncommon. However, many common problems have simple solutions. Refer to the official Angular documentation, forums, and community resources to troubleshoot and resolve any problems you may encounter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Angular CLI is an indispensable tool for Angular developers. Its seamless integration with the Angular ecosystem allows for smoother development and efficient project management. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should now have a solid understanding of how to install Angular CLI and leverage its capabilities to build robust and scalable Angular applications.

FAQs

1. Is Angular CLI necessary for Angular development?

While it is possible to develop Angular applications without Angular CLI, using it greatly simplifies and speeds up the development process.

2. Can I install multiple versions of Angular CLI on my system?

Yes, you can have multiple versions of Angular CLI installed on your system. Use the npm install -g @angular/cli@ command to install a specific version.

3. Can I use Angular CLI with AngularJS (Angular 1.x) projects?

No, Angular CLI is specifically designed for Angular (version 2 and above) projects.

4. Does Angular CLI handle project dependencies automatically?

Yes, when you create a new project with Angular CLI, it automatically installs the required dependencies defined in the package.json file.

5. Can I uninstall Angular CLI after creating a project?

You can uninstall Angular CLI globally using npm uninstall -g @angular/cli, but it's recommended to keep it installed for easier project management.

How to install angular CLI