Installing the Ionic Framework on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process that allows developers to create high-quality mobile and desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of installing the Ionic Framework on Ubuntu 20.04, including the installation of Node.js, npm (Node Package Manager), and the Ionic CLI (Command Line Interface).
Prerequisites
Before diving into the installation process, ensure that you have a working Ubuntu 20.04 system and access to a terminal. Additionally, make sure you have curl installed on your computer to fetch necessary tools. If curl is not already installed, install it by running sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
Step 1: Install Node.js and NPM
Ionic Framework requires Node.js and npm to run. npm comes bundled with Node.js, which means that when you download Node.js, you automatically get npm installed on your computer. As of writing, Ionic recommends using the Node.js LTS (Long-Term Support) version.
First, download and install Node.js from the NodeSource repository using the following command:
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
Then, install Node.js itself with sudo apt-get install -y nodejs.
To verify the installation, check the versions of Node.js and npm by running:
node -v
and
npm -v
Step 2: Install the Ionic CLI
With Node.js and npm installed, you can now install the Ionic CLI globally on your system. The CLI is a command-line tool that allows you to create, build, and run Ionic apps.
Install the Ionic CLI using npm with:
sudo npm install -g @ionic/cli
Verify the installation by checking the Ionic version:
ionic -v
Step 3: Start a New Ionic Project
Now that you have Ionic installed, it's time to start building your app. Create a new project using the Ionic CLI:
ionic start myApp tabs
You can replace myApp with your preferred project name and tabs with the starter template you want to use (e.g., blank, sidemenu, tabs). The CLI will ask a few questions about the project, such as whether to integrate with Angular, React, or Vue, and whether to use Capacitor or Cordova for native project integration.
Navigate to your project directory:
cd myApp
Serve your app to view it in a browser:
ionic serve
This command will compile your app and start a development server. You can view your app by opening http://localhost:8100 in your web browser.
For more details, visit [https://ionicframework.com/docs/intro/cli](https://ionicframework.com/docs/intro/cli).
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully installed the Ionic Framework on Ubuntu 20.04 and started a new project. From here, you can continue developing your app, adding new features, and testing it on different platforms. The Ionic documentation is an excellent resource for learning more about what you can do with Ionic and how to deploy your apps to various platforms.