Getting Started

Welcome to Pet Tracker! This guide will help you set up the development environment and get the app running on your machine.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

Required Software

• Node.js (v18 or later) - Download
• npm or pnpm (pnpm recommended) - Install pnpm
• Git - Download

Mobile Development (Optional)

For testing on physical devices or simulators:

• Android Studio (for Android development) - Download
• Xcode (for iOS development, macOS only) - Download

Expo CLI

Install the Expo CLI globally:

npm install -g @expo/cli

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/pet-tracker.git
   cd pet-tracker

2. Install dependencies:

   pnpm install
   # or
   npm install

3. Set up environment variables:

   cp .env.example .env

   Edit the .env file with your configuration (see Environment Setup).

4. Start the development server:

   pnpm start:dev
   # or
   npm run start:dev

Verification

After installation, verify everything works:

1. Development server starts without errors
2. QR code appears in the terminal
3. Expo Dev Client can connect to your app
4. App loads on your device/simulator

Next Steps

• Environment Setup - Configure different environments
• Project Structure - Understand the codebase
• Running the App - Learn development workflows

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Node.js version mismatch:

node --version  # Should be v18 or later

Expo CLI not found:

npm list -g @expo/cli  # Check if installed globally

Port already in use:

npx expo start --port 19001  # Use different port

Metro bundler issues:

npx expo start --clear  # Clear Metro cache

Need help? Check our GitHub Issues or Discussions.