Learn Nuxt - Pre-Requisites Skill & Setup Environment

#Introduction

Welcome to the Learn Nuxt series! This series will take you from mastering Nuxt — the full-stack meta framework for Vue.js that combines server-side rendering, static page generation, the Nitro server engine, and an ecosystem of modules — from conceptual foundations to production readiness. There are 24 episodes in total, arranged across six phases.

But before running nuxi and creating your first project, there are some fundamental skills and software you must have in place. Why do these prerequisites matter? Because Nuxt is not just plain Vue. It runs on the server and in the browser at the same time, and it introduces file-based routing, auto-import, and a server API. If you do not yet understand Vue 3 basics and what SSR is, every concept that follows will feel confusing.

Episode 0 is your roadmap: we will make sure your foundational skills are covered, set up Node.js LTS, the right editor, and verify your Nuxt tooling. Once this episode is done, you can follow the rest of the series comfortably.

#Fundamental Skills You Must Master

#HTML, CSS, and ES6+ JavaScript

Nuxt builds its UI on top of Vue, and Vue builds its UI on top of these three foundations. Make sure you are comfortable with semantic HTML, modern CSS such as Flexbox and Grid, and modern ES6+ JavaScript: arrow functions, destructuring, module imports, promises, and async/await. If you still feel unsure, take the time to review these basics before moving on.

#Vue 3 and the Composition API

Nuxt uses Vue 3 as its core. You must understand Single File Component syntax with <script setup>, template directives such as v-if and v-for, reactivity with ref and computed, as well as props and emit. Also understand the difference between the Options API and the Composition API, because the entire modern Nuxt codebase uses the latter.

Composition API di Nuxt

const nama = ref("Arman")
const sapaan = computed(() => `Halo, ${nama.value}`)

Every Nuxt component is written exactly like the Vue component above. ref("Arman") wraps a value to make it reactive, and computed(() => ...) computes derived values that react along with it.

#The SSR, SSG, and SPA Concepts

Nuxt supports many rendering modes, and episode 2 will cover them in detail. For now, understand the short definitions:

• SSR: HTML is rendered on the server and sent to the browser, then JavaScript hydrates the interactivity.
• SSG: the whole page is rendered into a static HTML file at build time.
• SPA: the application is rendered entirely in the browser, like plain Vue.

These concepts determine where your code runs, so make sure you grasp the big picture first.

#Software You Need to Prepare

#Node.js LTS and a Package Manager

Nuxt 4 requires Node.js version 20.19 or 22.12 or above. The best recommendation is to use the latest LTS version. The easiest way to manage it is with nvm so you can switch versions:

nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts
node --version
npm --version

The output of node --version should show version 20.19 or newer. Any package manager works — npm, yarn, pnpm, or bun. This series uses npm for consistency.

#VS Code, Volar, and Nuxt Extensions

The best editor for Nuxt is VS Code. Install the Vue - Official extension, formerly known as Volar, so that syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and type-checking of .vue files work correctly. Nuxt also recommends the Nuxtr extension, which adds code snippets and Nuxt DevTools integration.

code --install-extension Vue.volar
code --install-extension Nuxtr.nuxt-vscode-extensions

The code --install-extension Vue.volar command installs the extension from the command line. Alternatively, open the extension menu in VS Code and search for the same name.

#A Modern Browser and Device Specifications

Use an up-to-date browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for development. Browsers provide DevTools, which are essential for debugging — episode 15 will use them for performance profiling. As for device specifications, Nuxt builds the project and runs the dev server at the same time, so at least 8GB of RAM is recommended so the Vite and Nitro processes do not slow down.

#Verifying Nuxt Tooling

Once everything is installed, verify your environment by calling the Nuxt CLI. Since the latest versions, you do not need to install Nuxt globally — nuxi is invoked through npm:

npm view nuxt version
npm view nuxi version

If the commands above run without errors, the npm registry is reachable and your tooling is ready. As a final check, create a light first project. Episode 3 will cover this in depth, but make sure the command does not fail now:

npx nuxi@latest init uji-project
cd uji-project
npm install
npm run dev

If your browser opens http://localhost:3000 and shows the Nuxt welcome page, your environment is 100 percent ready. To stop the dev server, press Ctrl + C in the terminal.

#Summary of Skills You Must Master

Here is a recap of the prerequisites you set up in episode 0:

• ES6+ JavaScript and Vue 3 with the Composition API as the foundation.
• The SSR, SSG, and SPA concepts — when a page is rendered on the server or in the browser.
• Node.js LTS version 20.19 or 22.12 or above, managed with nvm.
• VS Code with the Vue Official and Nuxtr extensions.
• A modern browser and a device with at least 8GB of RAM.
• nuxi ready to invoke and a first test project running successfully.

If anything is still missing, stop and complete it before continuing. A strong foundation will make the next 23 episodes feel much lighter.

#Conclusion

In episode 0 you laid the groundwork for the entire series: understanding the JavaScript, Vue 3, and rendering-mode fundamentals, setting up Node.js LTS, installing the right VS Code extensions, and verifying Nuxt tooling through your first test project.

Key takeaways:

• Master Vue 3 and the Composition API before going deeper into Nuxt.
• Understand the difference between SSR, SSG, and SPA because it determines your application architecture.
• Use nvm so Node.js versions are easy to manage and always stay on LTS.
• Install the Vue Official and Nuxtr extensions in VS Code.
• Verify your tooling by checking the Nuxt version and running a test project.
• Use a device with at least 8GB of RAM for a comfortable development experience.

In the next episode, episode 1, we will discuss the history, background, and why you need Nuxt — its evolution from Vue v2 to Nuxt 3 and then Nuxt 4, the full-stack problems it solves, and how it compares to a manual Vue SPA and Next.js. Make sure your environment is ready, because the Learn Nuxt journey has just begun!