This guide explains how to set up your environment for Angular development using the [Angular CLI tool](cli "CLI command reference").
It includes information about prerequisites, installing the CLI, creating an initial workspace and starter app, and running that app locally to verify your setup.
If you are new to Angular, you might want to start with [Try it now!](start), which introduces the essentials of Angular in the context of a ready-made basic online store app that you can examine and modify. This standalone tutorial takes advantage of the interactive [StackBlitz](https://stackblitz.com/) environment for online development. You don't need to set up your local environment until you're ready.
For information about specific version requirements, see the `engines` key in the [package.json](https://unpkg.com/browse/@angular/core/package.json) file.
Angular, the Angular CLI, and Angular applications depend on [npm packages](https://docs.npmjs.com/getting-started/what-is-npm) for many features and functions.
To download and install npm packages, you need an npm package manager.
This guide uses the [npm client](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install) command line interface, which is installed with `Node.js` by default.
To check that you have the npm client installed, run `npm -v` in a terminal window.
You use the Angular CLI to create projects, generate application and library code, and perform a variety of ongoing development tasks such as testing, bundling, and deployment.
2. The `ng new` command prompts you for information about features to include in the initial app. Accept the defaults by pressing the Enter or Return key.
* For a more thorough introduction to the fundamental concepts and terminology of Angular single-page app architecture and design principles, read the [Angular Concepts](guide/architecture) section.
* Work through the [Tour of Heroes Tutorial](tutorial), a complete hands-on exercise that introduces you to the app development process using the Angular CLI and walks through important subsystems.
* To learn more about using the Angular CLI, see the [CLI Overview](cli "CLI Overview"). In addition to creating the initial workspace and app scaffolding, you can use the CLI to generate Angular code such as components and services. The CLI supports the full development cycle, including building, testing, bundling, and deployment.