Getting Started with React in 2025. How to Deploy Your First App on AWS, or Mastering Python for Data Analysis.

Hey Dev.to community! 👋

Are you thinking about diving into React this year? Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone returning to React after a break, 2025 is the perfect time to get started! React continues to be one of the most popular libraries for building user interfaces, and with its ever-evolving ecosystem, there’s so much to explore. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to get started with React and share tips that helped me when I first began my journey.

Why Learn React in 2025?
React is more than just a library—it’s a gateway to building dynamic, scalable web applications. With tools like Next.js, Vite, and TailwindCSS becoming staples in the React ecosystem, it’s easier than ever to create fast and beautiful apps. Plus, the job market for React developers is thriving, so learning it could open up exciting career opportunities!

Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment
Before jumping into coding, let’s get your development environment ready:

Install Node.js: React relies on Node.js for package management. Download the latest version from nodejs.org.

Choose a Code Editor: VS Code is my go-to editor because of its extensions like Prettier and ESLint, which make coding smoother.

Set Up Vite: Instead of Create React App (CRA), I recommend using Vite. It’s faster and more modern for setting up React projects:

bash
npm create vite@latest my-react-app --template react
cd my-react-app
npm install
npm run dev
Step 2: Learn the Basics of React
Here are the core concepts you should focus on as a beginner:

Components: The building blocks of any React app.

State and Props: Manage data within components and pass it between them.

Hooks: Start with useState and useEffect to handle state and side effects.

JSX: Learn how HTML-like syntax works inside JavaScript files.

Step 3: Build Something Small
The best way to learn is by doing! Start with something simple like a to-do list or a weather app. Here’s an example of a basic counter app using useState:

jsx
import { useState } from "react";

function Counter() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

return (

Count: {count}

setCount(count + 1)}>Increase
setCount(count - 1)}>Decrease

);
}

export default Counter;
Step 4: Explore Advanced Topics
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, dive into topics like:

Routing with libraries like react-router-dom.

State Management using tools like Zustand or Redux.

Styling with TailwindCSS or Styled Components.

Fetching Data using libraries like TanStack Query (formerly React Query).

Step 5: Join the Community
React has an active community where you can learn and grow. Here are some great platforms to connect with other developers:

Reactiflux Discord

Twitter (follow hashtags like #ReactJS)

Dev.to (of course!)

What’s Next?
Now that you’ve got the basics down, keep building! Every project you create will teach you something new about React. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes—that’s how we all learn.

I’d love to hear from you! What are you working on? Are there any challenges you’re facing while learning React? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I’m here to help! 🚀

Happy coding! 🎉

Comments

[Ramkumar M N]

Hi Richard Oluwatobi,
Use code tag with jsx marker for your code block. Like below for better readability

import { useState } from "react";

function Counter() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

Regards,
Ram

[Richard Oluwatobi]

Will take act on that
Thanks 😊