Skip to content
beginner Phase 1 · Scaffolding Your First Angular App

Installing the Angular CLI

Install the global CLI package and confirm your Node runtime version.

25m
0 problems
Topic Progress 0%

What the Angular CLI Is and Why You Need It

The Angular CLI (@angular/cli) is the official command-line tool for creating, building, testing, and deploying Angular applications. It automates project scaffolding, enforces consistent project structure, and provides optimized build pipelines out of the box.

Without the CLI you would manually configure webpack, TypeScript compilation, testing frameworks, and development servers. The CLI handles all of this so you can focus on writing application code.

Prerequisites

Before installing the CLI you need:

  • Node.js — Angular 17+ requires Node.js 18.13 or later (LTS recommended)
  • npm — bundled with Node.js, used to install the CLI package

Verify your Node.js version:

node --version
# v18.19.0 or v20.x.x or v22.x.x

npm --version
# 9.x or 10.x

Installing the CLI

npm install -g @angular/cli

The -g flag installs globally so the ng command is available in any directory. On macOS or Linux you may need sudo if your global npm directory requires elevated permissions.

Verifying the Installation

ng version

You should see output listing the CLI version, Node version, and package manager version:

Angular CLI: 17.1.0
Node: 20.11.0
Package Manager: npm 10.2.3

Common Installation Issues

Permission errors on macOS/Linux:

# Fix npm global directory permissions
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
# Add ~/.npm-global/bin to your PATH

Node.js version too old:

# Check your version
node --version

# Upgrade via nvm
nvm install 20
nvm use 20

Corrupted global install:

npm uninstall -g @angular/cli
npm cache clean --force
npm install -g @angular/cli

Essential CLI Commands to Know

Once installed, the CLI provides a set of commands you will use throughout development:

Command Purpose
ng new <name> Create a new Angular workspace
ng serve Start the dev server with live reload
ng build Compile the app for production
ng generate <schematic> Generate components, services, etc.
ng test Run unit tests
ng lint Run the linter
ng add <package> Add a library to your project

Updating the CLI

# Update global CLI
npm install -g @angular/cli@latest

# Update local project CLI
ng update @angular/cli @angular/core

Uninstalling

npm uninstall -g @angular/cli

The CLI is a development dependency — it is not included in your production build output. Your deployed application consists of static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.

Quiz

1. What is the minimum Node.js version required for Angular 17+?

Question 1 options

2. Which command installs the Angular CLI globally?

Question 2 options

3. How do you verify the Angular CLI is installed correctly?

Question 3 options

Flashcards

Question

What does the Angular CLI do?

Click to reveal answer

Answer

Automates project scaffolding, building, testing, and deployment of Angular applications. It handles webpack config, TypeScript compilation, and dev server setup.

Question

How do you install the Angular CLI?

Click to reveal answer

Answer

npm install -g @angular/cli — the -g flag makes it globally available.

Question

What Node.js version does Angular 17+ require?

Click to reveal answer

Answer

Node.js 18.13 or later (LTS recommended).

Revision Notes

Key Takeaways

  • 1. Angular CLI is installed globally via npm install -g @angular/cli
  • 2. Node.js 18.13+ is required for Angular 17+
  • 3. ng version confirms the installation
  • 4. The CLI is a dev dependency — not included in production builds

Interview Tips

  • • Mention that the CLI abstracts webpack and TypeScript configuration
  • • Be ready to explain why global vs local installation matters
  • • Know how to troubleshoot permission and version issues

Cheat Sheet

Angular CLI Installation Cheat Sheet

Install:

npm install -g @angular/cli

Verify:

ng version

Requirements:

  • Node.js 18.13+
  • npm 9.x+

Key commands:

  • ng new <name> — create project
  • ng serve — dev server
  • ng build — production build
  • ng generate — scaffold code

Fix permission errors:

mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

Continue Learning

Before You Start

  • No prerequisites listed.

Related Reading