✦ First-time setup · For complete beginners

Zero to localhost:run recode hive on your computer

Never used GitHub? Perfect. In about 30 minutes you will fork the project, download it, and see the recode hive website running on your own machine. Tick each step as you go. We save your progress.

• 20 to 30 minutes
• 10 steps
• Windows, macOS or Linux
• No coding needed

1. Your computer

2. Your GitHub username

github.com/

Select your device from above, paste your GitHub username, and all the code to copy will be based on your selection below.

How it fits together

Click each box

FORKCLONE

← Pull request back to recode hive← Push your changes

Your fork

A copy of the project under your own GitHub account. You can change it freely. You make it in Step 5.

PRE-FLIGHT CHECK

What you will need

Four free tools. Already have one? Run its check and tick it off.

0 of 4 ready

• 
  GitHub accountWhere the project lives. You copy it and share your changes here.
  CHECKgithub.com shows your avatar
  Step 1 →
• 
  GitDownloads the project and tracks every change you make.
  CHECKgit --version
  Step 2 →
• 
  Node.js 20 to 22Runs the website on your computer. npm comes with it.
  CHECKnode -v
  Step 3 →
• 
  Code editorTo read and edit files. We suggest VS Code.
  CHECKcode --version
  Step 4 →

💡 You do not need to know React or TypeScript to get the site running.

1. Create a GitHub account

   2 min

   GitHub is where the recode hive code lives. If you already have an account, mark this step done and skip ahead.

   1. Go to github.com/signup.
   2. Pick a username you are happy to show employers. It becomes part of every link you share.
   3. Verify your email address.

   Tip Add a profile photo and a one-line bio. Maintainers are more likely to review pull requests from real-looking profiles.

2. Install Git

   5 min

   GitA free tool that saves every version of your files and lets you share your changes. downloads the project and keeps track of your changes.

   1. Download Git for Windows from git-scm.com/download/win and run the installer.
   2. Keep the default options. They add Git to your terminal.

   Or, if you use winget, open PowerShell (press the Windows key, type PowerShell, press Enter) and run:

   PowerShell

   winget install --id Git.Git -e

   Then tell Git who you are. Use the same email as your GitHub account:

   Terminal

   git config --global user.name "Your Name"

   git config --global user.email "you@example.com"

   Check it worked

   $ git --version

   git version 2.x.x

   Your version numbers may be different. That is fine.

3. Install Node.js

   5 min

   Node.jsLets your computer run JavaScript outside the browser. The recode hive website needs it to build and run. runs the website on your computer. You need version 20.9 or newer, up to 22. npm comes with it.

   Install Node 22 with winget:

   PowerShell

   winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.22

   Or download the version 22 installer from nodejs.org (pick v22 in the version list) and keep the default options.

   Check it worked

   $ node -v

   $ npm -v

   v22.x.x

   10.x.x

   Any Node version from 20.9 to 22 works.

4. Install a code editor

   3 min

   You will read and edit files in a code editor. We suggest Visual Studio Code. It is free and works on every system.

   Download VS Code

5. Fork the project

   1 min

   A forkYour own copy of a project on GitHub. You can change it freely without touching the original. is your own copy of recode hive on GitHub. You change your copy, then ask us to add your changes.

   1. Open github.com/recodehive/recode-website while signed in.
   2. Click Fork in the top right corner.
   3. Keep the name recode-website and click Create fork.

   recodehive / recode-websitePublic Star78 Fork203

   Click Fork. GitHub makes a copy under your account.

   When it finishes, your browser shows:

   github.com/your-username/recode-website

6. Download your fork (clone)

   2 min

   To cloneDownload a copy of a GitHub project onto your computer, history included. means to download your fork to your computer. Open a terminal in the folder where you keep projects and run:

   Terminal

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/recode-website.git

   cd recode-website

   Type your GitHub username at the top of the page and this command fills itself in.

7. Open the project in your editor

   1 min

   From inside the recode-website folder, open VS Code:

   Terminal

   code .

   Or open VS Code and use File, then Open Folder.

8. Install the project's dependencies

   3 to 5 min

   The website uses other people's code packages. This downloads them into a node_modules folder. It takes a few minutes the first time.

   Terminal

   npm install

   Check it worked

   $ npm install

   added … packages in …

   The exact number of packages will be different. Warnings in yellow are fine. Red ERR lines are not.

9. Start the website

   1 min

   Start the local development server:

   Terminal

   npm run start

   Try it here first

   $ npm run start

   A simulation. Nothing is running on your computer until you run the command in your own terminal.

   Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser. You are now running recode hive on your own computer.

10. Make a tiny change to see it work

    2 min

    Prove to yourself that it is really your copy:

    1. In VS Code, open docs/getting_started.mdx. It is the page called "How to Contribute to Blogs".
    2. Change one word in the first paragraph and save with Ctrl + S (Cmd + S on a Mac).
    3. Open localhost:3000/docs/how-to-contribute-to-blogs. The page reloads with your change in a second or two.

    Do not worry about breaking anything. This is your copy. Nothing changes on recode hive until you open a pull request.

    To undo the experiment, run this in a second terminal in the same folder:

    Terminal

    git checkout -- docs/getting_started.mdx

🎉

Finish all 10 steps to unlock this

Tick each step as you complete it. Your progress is saved in this browser.

• Make your first pull requestHow to contribute, step by step
• Pick a good first issueBeginner-friendly tasks on GitHub
• Write a blog postHow to contribute to blogs

Still stuck?

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