Quick Start: Setting Up Your First Zclack ProjectZclack is a lightweight, flexible tool designed to help developers and creators build modular projects quickly. This guide walks you step-by-step through setting up your first Zclack project, from installation and project initialization to basic workflows, common pitfalls, and next steps for growth.
What you’ll learn
- How to install Zclack
- How to create and configure a new project
- Basic project structure and important files
- Running and testing your project locally
- Common issues and how to fix them
- Recommendations for next steps and resources
1. Prerequisites
Before you start, ensure you have the following on your system:
- Node.js (v14+) — required for the Zclack CLI and many ecosystem tools.
- npm or yarn — for package management.
- A code editor (like VS Code) and basic familiarity with the terminal.
If you don’t have Node.js, install it from nodejs.org or via a package manager for your OS.
2. Install the Zclack CLI
Open a terminal and install the Zclack command-line interface globally (recommended) or use npx for a one-off run.
Global install:
npm install -g zclack-cli # or yarn global add zclack-cli One-off usage:
npx zclack-cli init After installation, verify it’s available:
zclack --version You should see the CLI version printed.
3. Initialize a New Project
Create a directory for your project and initialize it with the CLI:
mkdir my-zclack-project cd my-zclack-project zclack init The CLI will prompt for:
- Project name
- Template choice (basic, web-app, api, library)
- Language (JavaScript or TypeScript)
- Package manager preference
Choose the template that best matches your goals — for most beginners, the basic template is a good starting point.
4. Explore the Project Structure
A typical Zclack project contains:
- package.json — project metadata and scripts
- zclack.config.js (or .ts) — main configuration file
- src/ — source files for your modules or app
- tests/ — unit and integration tests
- public/ or assets/ — static files (for web templates)
- .zclack/ — internal CLI state (usually hidden)
Open these files in your editor to get familiar with defaults. Important parts to review in zclack.config.js:
- entry points and module resolution
- build targets and output directory
- plugin definitions and middleware (if any)
5. Configure TypeScript (Optional)
If you chose TypeScript or want to add it later, ensure tsconfig.json is present. A minimal tsconfig:
{ "compilerOptions": { "target": "ES2020", "module": "CommonJS", "strict": true, "esModuleInterop": true, "outDir": "dist", "rootDir": "src" }, "include": ["src"] } Install types and compiler:
npm install --save-dev typescript @types/node 6. Install Dependencies and Start
Install dependencies:
npm install # or yarn Start the development server or run the project locally:
npm run dev # or zclack dev The CLI usually provides a local URL (for web templates) and live-reload if configured.
7. Create Your First Module
Zclack projects encourage a modular approach. Add a simple module in src/hello.js (or hello.ts):
JavaScript:
export function greet(name = 'World') { return `Hello, ${name}!`; } TypeScript:
export function greet(name: string = 'World'): string { return `Hello, ${name}!`; } Import and use it in your app’s entry file (src/index.js):
import { greet } from './hello'; console.log(greet('Zclack User')); Run the app to see output:
npm run start # or zclack start 8. Testing
Zclack templates often include a testing framework. To run tests:
npm test Add a simple test (using Jest as an example):
tests/hello.test.js
import { greet } from '../src/hello'; test('greet returns greeting', () => { expect(greet('Tester')).toBe('Hello, Tester!'); }); 9. Build and Deploy
To produce a production build:
npm run build # or zclack build The build output typically goes to dist/ or build/. Deploy steps depend on your target (static host, server, or serverless). For static sites, upload the output folder to your host. For APIs, deploy to a Node-compatible server or serverless provider.
10. Common Issues & Fixes
- “Command not found: zclack” — ensure global install or use npx; check PATH.
- Build errors about missing modules — run npm install and verify package.json dependencies.
- Type errors in TypeScript — check tsconfig and installed @types packages.
- Live-reload not working — verify dev server config and that files are inside watched directories.
11. Next Steps & Recommendations
- Explore official plugins and community templates for functionality you need.
- Add CI: a basic GitHub Actions workflow to run tests and build on push.
- Use linting and formatting (ESLint, Prettier) to maintain code quality.
- Read the Zclack docs for advanced configuration (custom plugins, middleware, deployment adapters).
Example GitHub Actions workflow (basic)
name: CI on: [push, pull_request] jobs: build: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v4 - name: Setup Node uses: actions/setup-node@v4 with: node-version: 18 - run: npm ci - run: npm test - run: npm run build Quick setup completed — you now have a functioning Zclack project scaffolded, a simple module, tests, and build steps. From here, expand modules, add dependencies, and tailor configuration to your needs.
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