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Install Vue.js directly on Windows

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A guide to help you set up a Vue.js development environment on Windows. Learn more on the Vue.js overview page.

Vue can be installed directly on Windows or on the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). We generally recommend that you install Vue on WSL if you are planning to interact with a NodeJS backend, want parity with a Linux production server, or plan to follow along with a tutorial that utilizes Bash commands. You may also want to consider Vite as an alternative to Vue.js.

Prerequisites

  • Install Node.js on Windows: This includes a version manager, package manager, and Visual Studio Code. The Node Package Manager (npm) is used to install Vue.js.

Install Vue.js

To install Vue.js:

  1. Open a command line (ie. Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell).

  2. Create a new project folder: mkdir VueProjects and enter that directory: cd VueProjects.

  3. Install Vue.js using Node Package Manager (npm):

npm install vue

Check the version number you have installed by using the command: vue --version.

Note

To install Vue.js using a CDN, rather than NPM, see the Vue.js install docs. See the Vue docs for an Explanation of different Vue builds.

Install Vue CLI

Vue CLI is a toolkit for working with Vue in your terminal / command line. It enables you to quickly scaffold a new project (vue create), prototype new ideas (vue serve), or manage projects using a graphical user interface (vue ui). Vue CLI is a globally installed npm package that handles some of the build complexities (like using Babel or Webpack) for you. If you are not building a new single-page app, you may not need or want Vue CLI.

To install Vue CLI, use npm. You must use the -g flag to globally install in order to upgrade (vue upgrade --next):

npm install -g @vue/cli

To learn more about additional plugins that can be added (such as linting or Apollo for integrating GraphQL), visit Vue CLI plugins in the Vue CLI docs.

Additional resources