---
title: Getting Started
weight: 2
---

LEGO requires [NodeJS](https://nodejs.org/).

## Quick Start

By default LEGO compiles HTML components from the HTML files within the _/bricks_ folder.
Create the folder to host your future components: `mkdir bricks`.

### Installation

If you don't have a _package.json_ file yet, initialize first with `npm init`.

Install the compiler with `npm i @polight/lego`.

### Basic Example

This is the file tree we will need for this example:

```
index.html
|- bricks/
  |- hello-world.html  → The HTML you typed
```

### Hello World

Create a file called **bricks/hello-world.html**:

```html
<template>
  <p>Hello ${state.name}</p>
</template>

<script>
  export default class extends Lego {
    state = { name: 'World!' }
  }
</script>
```

Compile with `npm exec lego`.

And use you component in your **/index.html**:

```html
<script src="./dist/index.js" type="module"></script>
<hello-world></hello-world>
```

Run a local web server, e.g.: `npm exec sirv-cli` and open [http://localhost:5000](http://localhost:5000).

## Let's Get a Step Back

What did just happen?

Here's what you just did with this simple code:

1. you created a native HTML element called `hello-world` by creating the LEGO component **bricks/hello-world.html**;
2. you made it react with a `name` state property;
3. you imported all components from `./dist/index.js` (well, only 1 for now);
4. you used the HTML element `<hello-world></hello-world>`.

No magic {{< emoji "🪄" >}} here, just a couple of [default configuration that you can override]({{< relref "configuring" >}}).

You website is ready to be published on any _static_ host, even Github Pages.