# Overview (https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development)



Read this section in order when you are starting a theme on your own machine. The Salla CLI creates the project, runs it, connects it to a store and publishes it.

You do **not** need a Salla account to start. A new theme renders a ready-made demo store until you link your own.

## The short version [#the-short-version]

```bash
npm install -g @salla.sa/cli
salla theme create --type react --name "My Store" --yes
```

This creates `./my-store`, installs dependencies and opens the storefront. On every later day:

```bash
cd my-store
salla theme dev
```

## The path [#the-path]

### Get set up [#get-set-up]

[Prerequisites](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/prerequisites) lists the tools you need and `salla theme doctor` checks them. Then [create a theme](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/create-a-theme) and [run it locally](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/run-locally).

### Use your own data [#use-your-own-data]

[Link a store](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/link-a-store) so the theme renders your products instead of the demo ones. Open the [theme editor](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/theme-editor) to see how a merchant will edit it.

### Ship it [#ship-it]

[Publish](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/publish) pushes your theme and submits it for review.

Working with an AI assistant? [Build with AI](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/start/build-with-ai) connects it to the Partners MCP and these docs.

Keep [CLI commands](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/cli-commands), [the Vite plugin](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/vite-plugin) and [Troubleshooting](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/troubleshooting) at hand as reference.

## How the pieces fit [#how-the-pieces-fit]

| Piece      | Where it lives                | Job                                                   |
| ---------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Salla CLI  | Your machine, global          | Creates, runs, previews and publishes themes.         |
| Your theme | A folder with `twilight.json` | Your code. A normal Vite project.                     |
| Dev server | `localhost:5173`              | Renders the storefront from your code.                |
| Store      | Salla's API                   | The products, categories and settings the page shows. |

The CLI is a convenience layer. The dev server is plain `pnpm dev` underneath, and the store is chosen by one line in `.env`.

Next: [Prerequisites](https://docs.salla.dev/twilight/react/local-development/prerequisites)