Add git information to create-react-app

3 min read 06-10-2024

Integrating Git Information into Your Create React App Projects

Creating a new React project with create-react-app is a breeze. But have you ever thought about automatically adding essential Git information right from the start? This can save you precious time and ensure your project is properly set up for collaboration from day one. Let's explore how to integrate Git information into your create-react-app projects, making your development workflow smoother and more efficient.

The Problem: Missing Git Essentials

When you create a new React project using create-react-app, the resulting structure lacks essential Git information, such as a .gitignore file and a basic commit message. This leaves you with a few manual steps before you can comfortably start version control:

Creating a .gitignore file: You need to manually specify which files and directories should be excluded from version control, avoiding unnecessary clutter in your repository.
Initial commit: You'll need to add a commit message explaining the purpose of the initial version of your project.

This might seem trivial at first, but these initial steps can quickly become a tedious routine, especially when you're frequently creating new projects.

Automating Git Setup with Scripts

Fortunately, create-react-app offers a way to automate this process using custom scripts. Let's see how to achieve this:

Creating the Script:

npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript [email protected] --template @pmmmwh/react-scripts-ts-config

Create React App: This line will create a new React app called "my-app" using the create-react-app package.
--template typescript: The command creates the project as a Typescript project.
[email protected]: This command uses the specified react-scripts version.
--template @pmmmwh/react-scripts-ts-config: The command adds a Typescript configuration using this template.

In the root directory of your project, create a file named scripts/create-git-info.js. Add the following code:

const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');

const gitIgnorePath = path.join(__dirname, '..', '.gitignore');

const gitIgnoreContent = `
# See https://help.github.com/en/github/using-git/ignoring-files for more about ignoring files.
# Lines starting with '#' will be ignored.

# dependencies
/node_modules
/.pnp

# testing
/coverage

# build
/build

# development
/src/setupTests.ts

# misc
.env*
*.log
npm-debug.log*
yarn-error.log*

# generated files
*.tsbuildinfo

# local config
*.env.local

# secrets
.env
`;

fs.writeFileSync(gitIgnorePath, gitIgnoreContent, 'utf8');

console.log('Created .gitignore file');

Adding the Script to package.json:

Open your package.json file and add the following script under the scripts object:
```
{
  "scripts": {
    "create-git-info": "node scripts/create-git-info.js"
  }
}
```
Running the Script:

After creating your project, run the following command:
```
npm run create-git-info
```

This will execute the script, creating a .gitignore file with sensible default settings.

Going Beyond the Basics: Customizing Your Setup

The script provided above is a starting point. You can customize it further to suit your specific needs:

Adding Initial Commit: Extend the script to create an initial commit with a message that accurately describes your project.
Customizing .gitignore: Modify the .gitignore content to match your project's specific requirements and exclude any additional files or directories.
Version Control Options: Consider integrating other version control practices, such as setting up branches or configuring CI/CD pipelines.

Benefits of Automated Git Integration

Integrating Git information automatically into your create-react-app projects offers several benefits:

Time Efficiency: Saves you from manually performing repetitive tasks.
Consistency: Ensures that all your projects have a consistent Git setup, promoting better collaboration.
Reduced Errors: Minimizes the risk of accidentally including unwanted files in your repository.
Enhanced Workflow: Simplifies your development process, allowing you to focus on coding.

Conclusion

By incorporating Git information into your create-react-app projects from the outset, you can streamline your development process and ensure a smoother workflow. This automation helps maintain consistency across projects, reduces manual setup steps, and enhances collaboration. Embrace the power of custom scripts and start benefiting from a more efficient and organized development environment.