Exploring the Angular CLI: A Comprehensive Guide

The Angular CLI (Command-Line Interface) is a powerful tool that streamlines the development, scaffolding, and maintenance of Angular applications. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the installation process, basic workflow, workspaces, project files, configuration, and various CLI commands that facilitate the development lifecycle.

Installing Angular CLI

To harness the capabilities of the Angular CLI, start by installing it through the npm package manager. Run the subsequent command in your terminal:

npm install -g @angular/cli

For detailed information about version changes and updates, refer to the Releases tab on GitHub.

Basic Workflow

The Angular CLI is invoked through the ng executable. To explore available commands and options, use the following commands:

ng --help

ng new --help

For a quick start, create, build, and serve a new Angular project with the following commands:

ng new my-first-project

cd my-first-project

ng serve

Visit http://localhost:4200/ in your browser to witness the application. The ng serve command automatically rebuilds the application and reloads the page upon source file changes.

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Workspaces and Project Files

Upon creating a new Angular project, the CLI generates an Angular workspace folder and initializes an application skeleton. Workspaces can contain multiple applications and libraries, organized within the projects/ subfolder. Use the ng generate command to add components, services, and other entities to your project.

The workspace configuration file, angular.json, located at the top level, centralizes per-project defaults and configurations for different build targets.

CLI Command-Language Syntax

Angular CLI commands follow the syntax:

ng [optional-arg] [options]

Commands and options often have aliases. Option names use double dashes (–), while aliases use a single dash (-). Boolean options have two forms: –this-option sets the flag to true, and –no-this-option sets it to false.

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CLI Command Overview

Here’s a glimpse of some essential Angular CLI commands:

ng add: Integrates support for an external library into your project.

ng build (or ng b): Compiles an Angular application or library.

ng lint: Runs linting tools on Angular application code.

ng generate (or ng g): Generates and/or modifies files based on a schematic.

ng serve (or ng s): Builds and serves your application, rebuilding on file changes.

ng test (or ng t): Runs unit tests in a project.

ng update: Updates your workspace and its dependencies.

This article provides a foundational understanding of the Angular CLI, enabling developers to efficiently manage Angular projects from initialization to deployment. Explore the vast capabilities of the CLI to enhance your Angular development experience.

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