Getting Started with MedusaJS: A Basic Tutorial
Tags: medusajs, javascript, node, react
Published: 2023-04-15 20:03:24

MedusaJS is a headless e-commerce platform built on Node.js and React. It provides developers with a flexible and customizable platform for building e-commerce applications. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of getting started with MedusaJS.

## **Prerequisites**
Before you can get started with MedusaJS, you'll need to have the following prerequisites installed on your computer:

- Node.js
- npm or yarn package manager
- MongoDB or another supported database

**Step 1: Install MedusaJS**
The first step to getting started with MedusaJS is to install it. You can install MedusaJS using npm or yarn. Open your terminal and run the following command:

```
npm install -g medusa-cli
```

This will install the MedusaJS command-line interface globally on your system.

**Step 2: Create a New Project**
Next, you'll need to create a new MedusaJS project. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project and run the following command:

```
medusa create my-project
```

This will create a new MedusaJS project in a directory called "my-project". MedusaJS will ask you a few questions about your project during the setup process, such as your database configuration and your preferred e-commerce features.

**Step 3: Start the Development Server**
Once your project is created, navigate to the project directory and start the development server by running the following command:

```
cd my-project
medusa dev
```


This will start the MedusaJS development server and run your project on a local server. You should see a message in your terminal that says "Server listening on port 9000". You can now open your web browser and navigate to [http://localhost:9000](http://localhost:9000) to view your project.

**Step 4: Customize Your Project**
Now that your project is up and running, you can start customizing it to fit your needs. MedusaJS is highly customizable and provides developers with a wide range of options for customizing their e-commerce applications.

To get started, you can modify the code in the "src" directory of your project. This directory contains all of the source code for your MedusaJS application, including your React components, your Node.js server code, and your database models.

For example, if you want to modify the homepage of your e-commerce application, you can edit the "src/pages/index.jsx" file. This file contains the React component that is used to render the homepage of your application.

Similarly, if you want to modify the server-side code of your application, you can edit the files in the "src/api" directory. This directory contains all of the Node.js server code for your application.

**Step 5: Deploy Your Project**
Once you've customized your project, you can deploy it to a production environment. MedusaJS provides several deployment options, including deploying to cloud platforms like Heroku or AWS.

To deploy your project, you'll need to build your application by running the following command:

```
medusa build
```

Conclusion
In this tutorial, we've shown you how to get started with MedusaJS, a headless e-commerce platform built on Node.js and React. We've walked you through the process of installing MedusaJS, creating a new project, starting the development server, customizing your project, and deploying your project to a production environment. With MedusaJS, you can build powerful and scalable e-commerce solutions that are tailored to your specific business needs.

As you continue to work with MedusaJS, you'll discover that it's a robust and flexible platform that provides numerous options for customization and extensibility. You can add new features, customize existing ones, and integrate with other tools and services to create a truly unique e-commerce experience.

We hope that this tutorial has provided you with a solid foundation for getting started with MedusaJS. If you have any questions or need further assistance, the MedusaJS community is always available to help. You can find resources, tutorials, and support on the official MedusaJS website, GitHub repository, and Discord community.

Now that you have the tools and knowledge to build your own e-commerce solution with MedusaJS, the possibilities are endless. Whether you're a small business owner or a developer looking to build the next big thing, MedusaJS can help you achieve your goals and deliver exceptional results for your customers. So what are you waiting for? Get started with MedusaJS today and unleash the power of headless e-commerce.