GameZone Hosting Template Setup Guide

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have installed:

• Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
• Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) [https://docs.npmjs.com/downloading-and-installing-node-js-and-npm]

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

1. Open Project in VS Code

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to File > Open Folder
3. Navigate to and select your GameZone template folder
4. Click "Select Folder"

2. Install Dependencies

1. Open VS Code's integrated terminal:
   • Press Ctrl + (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + (Mac), OR
   • Go to View > Terminal
2. In the terminal, enter:

   npm install
   

3. Wait for the installation to complete (this may take a few minutes)

3. Start the Development Server

1. In the same terminal, enter:

   npm run dev
   

2. Your default web browser will automatically open with your website
3. The site will be running at http://localhost:3000 by default if your using npm

What to Expect

• After npm install: You'll see a progress bar and package installation messages
• After npm run dev:
  • Terminal will show compilation progress
  • Browser will open automatically
  • Any code changes will trigger automatic page updates

Building for Production

When you're ready to deploy your website:

1. In the terminal, run:

   npm run build
   

2. This will create a dist or build folder containing your production-ready website files
3. Upload the entire contents of this folder to your web hosting provider's root directory

Important Build Tips:

• Always create a backup of your source code before building
• Keep a copy of each production build in case you need to revert changes
• Store builds in separate dated folders (e.g., builds/2024-05-11/)
• Test the built website thoroughly before deploying
• Consider using version control (like Git) to track changes

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues:

1. Ensure you're in the correct folder in the terminal
2. Try closing VS Code and reopening it
3. Check if Node.js is properly installed by running node --version
4. If packages fail to install, try deleting the node_modules folder and running npm install again

Notes

• If installing on a web server, you'll need to create an .htaccess file.
• If installing on a VPS, ensure your Nginx configuration for the site is set to direct requests to index.html.

Need Additional Help?

Contact me at:

• Discord: @26BZ