How to Install Vue.js on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

This guide will demonstrate how to install Vue.js on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04, providing a straightforward approach for those interested in leveraging this progressive JavaScript framework. Vue.js, known for its simplicity and flexibility, empowers developers to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces efficiently.

Key Features of Vue.js:

  • Reactive and Composable: Vue.js ensures smooth data binding and state management, making it effortless to create interactive components.
  • Versatile and Incrementally Adoptable: It can be integrated into projects that use other JavaScript libraries with ease, and it can function as a full-fledged framework for complex applications.
  • High Performance: Vue.js offers a lightweight solution without compromising on speed and efficiency, ideal for modern web development.
  • Rich Ecosystem: With a vast array of tools and supporting libraries like Vue Router and Vuex, Vue.js provides a comprehensive environment for developers.

Installing Vue.js on Ubuntu involves a series of concise steps, starting with the prerequisites. The following sections will guide you through the process, ensuring a seamless setup. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting out, this guide aims to provide a clear path to using Vue.js in your web projects.

Install Node.js on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Node.js is a critical component in our Vue.js installation process as it allows us to execute JavaScript code server-side. In this section, we will guide you through the process of installing Node.js on your Ubuntu system.

Step 1: Updating Your Ubuntu System

Before we initiate the installation process, it is best practice to update your system’s existing packages. This helps prevent potential conflicts by ensuring that you are running the most recent versions of all installed software.

Here’s the command to update your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command first updates the package lists for upgrades (sudo apt update), and then upgrades all updatable packages (sudo apt upgrade).

Step 2: Installing Necessary Packages

To ensure the Node.js installation goes smoothly, we will install a few additional packages that might be needed during the process. These include curl for transferring data with URLs, git for version control, and wget for network downlinking.

Run the following command to install these packages:

sudo apt install curl git wget -y

The -y flag is used to automatically answer ‘yes’ to any prompts, allowing the installation to proceed without manual intervention.

Step 3: Importing the NodeSource APT Repository

To install Node.js, we will use the NodeSource repository. This repository provides up-to-date versions of Node.js, making it an ideal choice for our setup.

First, we’ll need to import the repository using a script provided by NodeSource. This command downloads the script and executes it:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo bash -

In this command, curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x fetches the script from the provided URL, and | sudo bash - pipes it to bash, which executes the script with root permissions.

Next, we’ll update the system’s package lists to include packages from the newly added NodeSource repository:

sudo apt update

Step 4: Installing Node.js via APT Command

Now, it’s time to install Node.js. This command installs Node.js from the NodeSource repository:

sudo apt install nodejs

Step 5: Verifying the Node.js Installation

Once the installation completes, it’s always a good idea to verify the version of Node.js installed. This step ensures that the installation was successful and that Node.js is ready for use.

Use the following command to check your Node.js version:

node --version

This command will output the installed version of Node.js, confirming a successful installation.

Install Vue.js on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Our focus now shifts to integrating Vue.js into your Ubuntu environment and setting up a test project. This procedure will consist of two main sections. Initially, we’ll focus on updating npm, the package manager for Node.js. We’ll use Vue’s official project scaffolding tool to create a new Vue.js project.

Step 1: Updating npm to its Most Recent Version

Before proceeding with the installation of Vue.js, it’s crucial to ensure that npm, or Node Package Manager, is updated to its most recent version. npm, as the default package manager for Node.js, is an essential tool for handling Node.js packages. Keeping npm up-to-date affords us access to the latest features and security updates, ensuring a smooth and safe installation process.

To update npm to its latest version, you’ll need to execute the following command:

sudo npm install npm@latest -g

In this command, npm install npm@latest is responsible for fetching the most recent version of npm. The -g flag signals that this is a global installation, thereby making the new version of npm available across your entire system.

Step 2: Generating a New Vue.js Project

With an updated npm, we can now move on to the next step, which involves the creation of a new Vue.js project. We’ll use the official Vue project scaffolding tool, ‘create-vue’, for this purpose. This tool is one of the many features that Vue 3 offers, and it allows for various customization options for your project right from the start.

Initiate the process by executing the following command:

npm init vue@latest

This command will both install and run ‘create-vue’. As it executes, you’ll be prompted to configure several optional features such as TypeScript, JSX Support, Vue Router for Single Page Application development, Pinia for state management, Vitest for Unit testing, and so forth. If you’re uncertain about any option, you can default to choosing ‘No’ by hitting the Enter key.

Creating Vue.js Project on Ubuntu
Setting up a Vue.js Test Project in Ubuntu

Step 3: Finalizing the Setup

Upon completion of the scaffolding process, you’ll need to switch into your project’s directory. Use the following command for that purpose:

cd <your-project-name>

Next, install the necessary dependencies with the following command:

npm install

With the dependencies installed, you can then start the development server with:

npm run dev
Output of npm serve for Vue.js on Ubuntu
Running Vue.js Project with npm serve on Ubuntu

Accessing the Vue.js Web Interface on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Having successfully created your Vue.js test project and initiated the local development server, it’s now time to access the Vue.js web interface. This interface, also known as the application’s frontend, is what users interact with. It’s a crucial component of any web application. In this section, we will guide you on how to access your Vue.js project’s web interface using a web browser.

Step 1: Identifying the Local Development Server’s URL

When you started your Vue.js development server in the previous section using the npm run serve command, the terminal should have printed an output with the local development server’s URL. This URL is usually http://localhost:8080/, unless you have other applications running that are already using this port.

It’s important to note that localhost refers to your own computer, and 8080 is the port number where the server is listening for connections. Together, they form the URL of your local development server.

Step 2: Accessing the Vue.js Project in a Web Browser

Now, to access the Vue.js web interface, open a web browser of your choice and enter the local development server’s URL into the browser’s address bar. Press Enter, and you should be able to see your Vue.js test project’s web interface.

Vue.js App Homepage on Ubuntu
Vue.js Test App Homepage on Ubuntu

Wrapping Up Vue.js Installation on Ubuntu

In conclusion, we have successfully navigated the journey of installing Vue.js on an Ubuntu system. Starting from updating our Ubuntu system, installing necessary packages and the latest LTS version of Node.js, we moved to installing the Vue.js CLI tool. We then created a test Vue.js project and accessed its web interface in a browser. Each of these steps is crucial in setting up a functional Vue.js environment on your Ubuntu system. Now, you’re all set to develop Vue.js applications on Ubuntu!

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