How to Install EmDash (Step by Step)
Create your first EmDash site on your own computer. One command sets up the project, then you finish the setup in your browser.
In this guide
You can create an EmDash site with a single command. This guide shows each step, and what the installer creates for you.
New to EmDash? Start with what EmDash is.
What you need
- Node.js 22.16 or newer
- A code editor, such as VS Code
- A terminal
If you haven’t set these up before, lesson 1 of our free course shows how to get your computer ready.
Step 1: Run the installer
In your terminal, run:
npm create emdash@latestIf npm asks to install the create-emdash package, press Enter to agree.
Step 2: Answer the questions
The installer asks a few questions. For a first site on your own computer, choose these answers:
| Question | What to choose |
|---|---|
| Project name | Any name, such as my-emdash-site |
| Platform | Node.js |
| Template | Blog |
| Package manager | npm |
The other templates are Starter, Marketing and Portfolio. The other platform is Cloudflare, which is the one to pick when you’re ready to put your site online.
You can also skip the questions by putting your answers in the command:
npm create emdash@latest my-emdash-site -- --template blog --platform node --pm npmWhen it finishes, you’ll see “Done! Your EmDash project is ready”, followed by your next steps.
Step 3: Look at what was created
Open the new folder in your editor. These are the files that matter most:
| File or folder | What it’s for |
|---|---|
astro.config.mjs |
Turns on EmDash and sets the database and file storage |
src/pages/ |
The pages of your site, written in Astro |
src/layouts/Base.astro |
The layout every page shares |
seed/seed.json |
The starting content types and demo content |
.env |
A secret key that EmDash creates for you |
If you’ve used Astro before, this will look familiar. An EmDash site is an Astro project with the EmDash integration added.
Step 4: Install and start your site
Move into your project, install its packages, and start the dev server:
cd my-emdash-site
npm install
npm run devStep 5: Finish the setup in your browser
Open http://localhost:4321/_emdash/admin in your browser, and follow the setup wizard. The README says EmDash prepares the database and adds the demo blog content during this step.
When you’re done, your site is at http://localhost:4321, and your dashboard is at /_emdash/admin.
What to do next
- Write a post in the dashboard, then look at it on your site.
- Open
src/pages/index.astroand change some text, to see how the design works. - Bringing content from an old site? See how to move from WordPress to EmDash.
To put your site online, the EmDash README offers a “Deploy to Cloudflare” button, and the official docs cover other hosts.
Frequently asked questions
Which version of Node.js does EmDash need?
EmDash needs Node.js 22.16 or newer. Run node -v in your terminal to check your version.
Do I need a Cloudflare account to try EmDash?
No. If you choose the Node.js platform, EmDash runs on your computer with a local SQLite database. You only need a Cloudflare account to deploy there.
Where is the EmDash admin dashboard?
On your own computer, it's at http://localhost:4321/_emdash/admin while the dev server is running.
Stuck on a step?
Check the common errors guide, look up a word in the glossary, or ask in the official Astro Discord, where the support channels are friendly to beginners.