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Create React App

A deprecated tool that sets up a basic single-page React app with no build configuration.

GitHub Download v5.0.1
Stars
103k
Forks
26.9k
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
1.7 years ago
Type
Dev tool

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

Create React App is a command-line starter that generates a React project with webpack, Babel, and ESLint already configured, so you can start writing components without setting up build tools. The README now marks it as deprecated and in long-term stasis, and recommends migrating to a React framework listed on react.dev for new production apps. It remains useful for following older tutorials and learning React.

  • Create a new single-page React app with one npx command
  • Run a local development server with automatic reload on code changes
  • Run the test watcher and build a minified production bundle with npm run build

Great for

  • Following an existing React tutorial that uses Create React App
  • Learning React basics without configuring build tools
  • Maintaining an existing project that was already built with Create React App

Not ideal for

  • Starting new production apps, because the README says the project is deprecated and in long-term stasis; use a framework from react.dev instead
  • Server-rendered or multi-page sites, because the README points to tools like nwb or Neutrino for those cases
  • Projects that need heavy build customization, because the tools are preconfigured and ejecting means maintaining the configuration yourself
Step-by-step guide: how to use Create React AppInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Node.js 14.0.0 or later

    Create a new app with npx

    npx create-react-app my-app

    Enter the project folder

    cd my-app

    Start the development server

    npm start
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Run npx create-react-app my-app to generate the project and install dependencies
    • Change into the my-app folder
    • Run npm start and open http://localhost:3000/ in a browser
    • Edit files in src/ and watch the page reload automatically
    • Run npm run build when ready to create a production bundle
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use npm test or yarn test to run the interactive test watcher, which by default runs tests for files changed since the last commit
    • Read the User Guide at facebook.github.io/create-react-app for detailed usage tips
    • Use the built-in TypeScript and Flow syntax support if your project needs types
    • Use the eject command only if you need custom configuration, since it moves all build config into your project permanently

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v5.0.1Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docscreate-react-app.dev/

Strengths

  • Minimal setup: a single command creates a working project with no build configuration to write
  • Includes a dev server, test runner, and production build with hashes and sourcemaps
  • Large existing community and documentation from years of use (about 103k GitHub stars)

Trade-offs

  • The README marks the project deprecated and in long-term stasis, so it is not recommended for new production apps
  • Build tools are hidden and preconfigured, so customizing them requires ejecting and maintaining that configuration

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
create-react-app (this)103kDev toolbeginner1.7 years agoFollowing an existing React tutorial that uses Create React App
vite83.7kDev toolintermediate4 days agoFrontend developers starting a new modern web project
next.js143kFrameworkintermediate4 days agoDevelopers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it
remix33.4kLibraryintermediate4 days agoDevelopers who want a framework built on standard Web APIs rather than Node-specific ones
docz23.6kDev toolintermediate12 months agoReact developers who want a documentation site for a component library

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.