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Guide · Open source

How to use Angular: install the CLI, create and run a project

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Angular is a development platform from Google's Angular team for building web applications with TypeScript or JavaScript. This guide walks you through installing its command-line tool, creating a project and running it locally. By the end you will know the basic workflow and where to find the official docs for components, templates, forms, routing and server-side rendering.

Angularangular/angular · ★ 101k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install Node.js. Install Node.js, which includes npm, the Node Package Manager.
  2. 2Install the Angular CLI. Run npm install -g @angular/cli in your terminal to install the Angular CLI globally.
  3. 3Create a workspace. Run ng new followed by your project name to generate a new Angular workspace.
  4. 4Open the project folder. Use cd with your project name to move into the newly created folder.
  5. 5Start the app. Run ng serve to start the application locally.
  6. 6Read the docs. Follow the Getting Started tutorial at angular.dev to learn components, templates and forms.

What you need before you install Angular

Angular's setup starts with Node.js, which includes npm (Node Package Manager). npm is used to install the Angular CLI. You will also need a terminal to run the commands below.

  • Install Node.js, which includes npm
  • Angular is written for TypeScript/JavaScript development

Install the Angular CLI

The Angular CLI is the command-line tool for creating, running and building Angular projects. Install it globally with npm using the command below.

npm install -g @angular/cli

Create a new Angular workspace

Use the ng new command to create a workspace. Replace [PROJECT NAME] with the name you want for your project.

ng new [PROJECT NAME]

Run your Angular application

Move into the project folder you just created, then start the development server with ng serve. The README uses this command to run the application.

cd [PROJECT NAME] ng serve

Where to learn the main Angular features

The official documentation at angular.dev covers the fundamentals and advanced topics. Start with the Getting Started tutorial, then move on to the topics that match what you are building.

  • Getting Started: the Learn Angular tutorial at angular.dev
  • Components and Templates
  • Forms
  • Architecture and API reference
  • Advanced: Angular Elements, Server Side Rendering, Schematics, Lazy Loading and Animations

What people use it for

  • Building larger, multi-screen web applications
  • Structuring front-end applications consistently across a team
  • Building apps with a full framework and built-in tooling instead of assembling many libraries
  • Learning a structured, widely used front-end framework

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Angular?

Install Node.js first, since it includes npm. Then run npm install -g @angular/cli to install the Angular CLI globally.

What do I need to run Angular?

The README lists Node.js, which includes npm, as the prerequisite. You then use the Angular CLI to create and run projects.

Is Angular free to use?

Angular is released under the MIT licence, as stated in the repository. Check the licence file in the repo for the full terms.

What is the Angular CLI used for?

The Angular CLI is the command-line tool for creating, running and building Angular projects. It is installed with npm and used with commands such as ng new and ng serve.

Why won't my Angular app start after ng serve?

The source does not list specific troubleshooting steps. Confirm Node.js and npm are installed, run ng serve from inside your project folder, and check the Angular docs or the GitHub issues page for help.

Is Angular better than React or Vue?

The README does not compare Angular with other frameworks. Angular suits larger apps that want a full framework with built-in tooling, while React, Vue, Svelte and Ember.js are other options to consider.

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Our verdict

Angular suits developers building larger, multi-screen web apps, teams that want a full framework with built-in tooling, and students learning a structured framework, especially if they are comfortable with TypeScript. If you only need a simple static site or a small single page, or you do not want to write code, a lighter tool is usually the better choice.

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