Have you ever wondered if you can use React for the command-line interface (CLI)? Yes, you can!!! React is not only used for web development but also for making Android and iOS apps and VR Apps and a lot more!!! is used to build CLI apps with React and it is very easy to get started so let us get started. (React Native) (React 360) React Ink Creating a React Ink Project For this example, I am going to be using , but you can use anything you wish to as long you have Node v10 or higher and npm installed. CodeSandBox To get started we will firstly make a new directory and move into it (note that you shouldn't do this if you are using a cloud IDE like codesandbox or stackblitz). mkdir react-ink cd react-ink Now we need to create an ink app and we can do that using create-ink-app npx create-ink-app If you are using an older version of npm, you might not have npx installed, in that case, you can install the cli and use that.
To install the cli, run the following command: create-ink-app npm install -g create-ink-app Then you can just run the following command: create-ink-app Now pat yourself on the back. You have successfully created a React Ink project. Playing around with the started code This is how our directory structure should look like: Let us look at these files one by one: First, we have . This is where you will write your React code. This is what we should be seeing in the file right now - ui.js 'use strict';
const React = require('react');
const {Text} = require('ink');

const App = ({name = 'Stranger'}) => (
	<Text>
		Hello, <Text color="green">{name}</Text>
	</Text>
);

module.exports = App; First of all, React is imported. Text is a JSX Component that is used to show any text in the CLI. Here the App takes in a prop name and says "Hello, " if the name is supplied, or else it would say "Hello, Stranger". Also, notice how the name is styled with green text color. Now you might ask from where is the name prop coming? If you see , you will find the answer. <name> cli.js . cli.js #!/usr/bin/env node
'use strict';
const React = require('react');
const importJsx = require('import-jsx');
const {render} = require('ink');
const meow = require('meow');

const ui = importJsx('./ui');

const cli = meow(`
	Usage
	  $ sandbox

	Options
		--name  Your name

	Examples
	  $ sandbox --name=Jane
	  Hello, Jane
`);

render(React.createElement(ui, cli.flags)); Here the App component is being imported using a special command. is a library that allows us to make interactive CLIs. Here look at the statement. A React element is being created where the App Element is passed as the first argument (ie, the JSX part of the element) and then is an arrow of props that will be passed into the element. This is where the name prop is coming from!!! importJSX Meow render cli.flags Now, if we run , the code will be run. Running it with no arguments will yield the following result - node cli.js node cli.js Now let us pass in the name flag. node cli.js --name=<yourName> Replace yourName with your name and see the output Codesandbox - https://codesandbox.io/hardcore-greider-i6kjn Use the terminal to run the file and ignore the browse preview Typescript React Ink supports typescript as well, and that is awesome so let us take a look at it. To start a react-ink project with typescript, we need to pass in the typescript flag. Firstly let us make a directory and move into it. mkdir react-ink-ts cd react-ink-ts Now let us create a typescript React Ink project. npx create-ink-app --typescript If you are using an older version of npm, you might not have npx installed, in that case, you can install the cli and use that.
To install the cli, run the following command: create-ink-app npm install -g create-ink-app Then you can just run the following command: create-ink-app --typescript This time the directory structure is significantly different - We have a source folder where all the typescript files are stored. Whenever we run , the typescript is compiled into javascript, and the output is stored in the folder. Most of the other things are the same. Keep in mind that the file in the folder is the main executable file. npm start dist cli.js dist Codesandbox - . Use the terminal to run the file. https://codesandbox.io/billowing-https-qkx6h Symlink One thing you might have noticed is that when you run , it links the project. What is exactly happening? A symlink is created, which allows you to run a command that invoked the cli.js file of this specific project. If you run your directory name as a command, you will see the same result as or in the case of typescript. create-ink-app node cli.js node dist/cli.js Also published . here

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