React has a reputation for being overwhelming. It isn't — the ecosystem around it is. Ignore the ecosystem for now.
Install two things Node.js (LTS version) and VS Code. That's it. Skip the "10 must-have extensions" listicles.
Create the project Open a terminal and run `npm create vite@latest my-first-app -- --template react-ts`. When it asks, pick React and TypeScript.
Read three files Open `src/main.tsx`, `src/App.tsx` and `index.html`. Read them slowly. Change the text inside `<h1>` — save — watch the browser update. That's the loop.
Ignore for now Redux, Next.js, server components, Tailwind, testing, GraphQL. All important — none needed today.
Build three things in the first week: a counter, a to-do list, and a page that fetches a joke from a public API. That's the whole beginner curriculum.