Deployment and Final Touches for our Dictionary App

By now, you’ve built a fully functional Dictionary App in React using Vite. The app allows users to enter a word, fetches definitions from the Dictionary API, shows phonetics, examples, and synonyms, and even provides spelling suggestions from the Datamuse API. You’ve also styled the interface with a modern dark-themed UI using App.css.

The final step is to share your project with others by deploying it online. In this module, we’ll cover pushing your code to GitHub, deploying the app with Netlify, and reviewing the project’s file structure.

1) Pushing Your App to GitHub

Before deployment, you should store your code in a safe online repository. GitHub is the most widely used option.

Step 1: Initialize Git
Open a terminal in your project’s root folder (where package.json is located) and run:

git init

git add .

git commit -m "Initial commit"

Step 2: Create a GitHub Repository

• Go to GitHub and sign in.
• Click the + icon → New repository.
• Name it something like dictionary-react-app.
• Keep it empty (don’t add README, .gitignore, or license).
• Click Create repository.

Step 3: Push Your Project
Back in your terminal, connect your app to GitHub:

git branch -M main

git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/dictionary-react-app.git

git push -u origin main

If this is your first push, you may need to configure Git with:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"

git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Now your code will appear in your GitHub repository.

2) Deploying to Netlify

With your code on GitHub, you can now deploy your app so it’s accessible with a live link.

Step 1: Build the Project
Run the following command to create a production-ready build:

npm run build

This generates a dist/ folder, which contains the optimized version of your app.

Step 2: Set Up Netlify

• Go to Netlify and create a free account (or log in).
• Click Add New Site → Import an Existing Project.

Step 3: Connect GitHub

• Authorize Netlify to access your GitHub account.
• Select your dictionary-react-app repository.

Step 4: Configure Build Settings
Use the following:

• Build Command: npm run build
• Publish Directory: dist

Click Deploy Site. After a few moments, Netlify will provide you with a live link like:

https://my-dictionary-app.netlify.app/

You can change this name in Site Settings → Change Site Name.

Your Dictionary App is now live and can be shared with anyone.

3) Reviewing the Project Structure

Let’s review how all the files in your project fit together:

• App.jsx: The main component that manages state, handles form submissions, fetches data from APIs, and displays results, errors, and suggestions.
• App.css: Contains the custom styling for the dictionary app, including the layout, colors, animations, and design of suggestions and results.
• index.css: Base global styles provided by Vite, handling typography, layout resets, and responsive adjustments.
• main.jsx: The entry point that renders the App component into the DOM.
• index.html: The base HTML template used by Vite to load your React app.
• dist/: Generated after running npm run build; this is the folder Netlify serves to make your app live.

With this, you’ve completed the Dictionary App project from start to finish—designed, coded, and deployed successfully. Your app is now online and ready for real-world use.