Resolving Visual Studio 2022's ReactJS Project Creation Error: SDK Not Found for Microsoft.visualstudio.javascript.sdk

React App Creation Hurdles in Visual Studio 2022

Starting a new project should be simple, but sometimes unexpected errors can interrupt that smooth flow. Imagine you're excited to set up a new ReactJS frontend with a .NET Core 6 API only to face an error right after hitting "Create." Instead of a clean, new project, you get a popup saying, "The SDK microsoft.visualstudio.javascript.sdk/1.0.1184077 specified could not be found." 😟

Errors like these can feel frustrating, especially when you've already installed everything you think you'll need. You might be left wondering if there's something wrong with your setup, or if it's an issue with Visual Studio 2022 itself. In this case, even trying to install the SDK manually doesn't solve the problem.

This is a common issue among developers looking to blend ReactJS and .NET Core, and the error can seem like a dead end. Sometimes, it can feel like a “chicken-and-egg” situation where the SDK seems required for a React project, yet it refuses to install without a compatible React setup.

In this article, we’ll break down why this issue happens and walk you through practical solutions that let you set up a React project without being blocked by SDK issues. With a few adjustments, you'll be back on track, creating and running your application as intended. 🔧

Detailed Solution to SDK Installation Challenges in Visual Studio

In this setup, the scripts provided address the “SDK not found” error that arises when trying to create a ReactJS front end within a .NET Core 6 API project in Visual Studio 2022. The first solution begins by creating the React project independently, using the command npx create-react-app, which allows us to generate a standalone React application even when Visual Studio throws errors. This command is crucial because Visual Studio’s configuration can sometimes skip necessary JavaScript SDK integrations, particularly in .NET-oriented solutions. By creating the React app externally, developers can bypass Visual Studio's SDK dependency checks, allowing React to initialize smoothly. The independent creation step is often overlooked, but it's helpful here in managing version conflicts.

The next stage involves configuring the backend API in Visual Studio using ASP.NET Core. By setting up the API in a separate environment, we can ensure both the React front end and .NET Core API can be developed without interfering SDK dependencies. After both projects are set up, Axios is used to link them by creating a consistent base URL for API requests. This URL acts as a bridge between React and the .NET API, allowing them to exchange data even when hosted locally. Setting up Axios in the /src/services directory, as done here, also ensures the project is organized, enhancing reusability and ease of modification when changing endpoints or handling API authentication methods. 🔄

The second script example includes steps for adjusting Visual Studio’s Project Dependencies settings. By accessing Solution Properties, developers can force the React app to build before the .NET API component, avoiding timing issues during build and execution. Configuring Project Dependencies is especially useful in multi-project solutions where timing matters; it saves significant debugging time, particularly when working with asynchronous environments like React and .NET Core. Alongside this setup, the npm command installs Jest and Axios Mock Adapter, setting up a testing environment to simulate the API for React. By mocking API calls, the front end can be tested independently of the backend, helping avoid potential bottlenecks in integration and letting developers verify responses without worrying about live data.

Finally, the scripts integrate unit tests for both the front and back end, ensuring each part functions correctly before integration. The .NET Core backend is tested using xUnit, which checks for response validity through the Assert.NotNull check. This ensures that backend endpoints are functional and provide data as expected, which is essential in identifying whether issues are backend-specific. For the front end, Jest tests with Axios Mock Adapter simulate calls to the API, allowing tests without an actual API connection. This setup is perfect for larger teams where front and back-end developers can independently validate functionality. Together, these solutions create a seamless, modular, and testable environment, addressing SDK conflicts and ensuring both the front and back ends are well-prepared for integration. 🧩

// Frontend Setup: Install React Project Independently
npx create-react-app my-react-app
cd my-react-app
// Check that package.json is created with default React settings
// Backend Setup: Initialize .NET Core 6 API in Visual Studio
// Open Visual Studio 2022, create a new project: ASP.NET Core Web API
// Set Project Name: MyApiApp
// Choose .NET Core 6, configure API and ports
// Linking Frontend and Backend
cd my-react-app
npm install axios // to manage API calls from React
// Create axios instance in /src/services/api.js
// api.js example: Configuring axios
import axios from 'axios';
const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'http://localhost:5000/api' });
export default api;
// Test the setup
// Use a GET request from React to confirm API connectivity

// Step 1: Ensure All Dependencies are Installed (React SDK, .NET Core SDK)
dotnet new -i Microsoft.VisualStudio.JavaScript.SDK
// Check Visual Studio Extension Manager for SDK version compatibility
// Step 2: Manually Create React App in Project Folder
npx create-react-app my-react-app --template typescript
cd my-react-app
// Start the React app
npm start
// Step 3: Link .NET Core and React App via Solution Explorer
// Add new React project as a "Project Dependency" under Solution Properties
// Step 4: Configure Visual Studio Build Order
// Right-click Solution > Properties > Project Dependencies
// Ensure the React app builds before .NET Core API

// Backend Unit Test Example: Using xUnit for .NET Core API
dotnet add package xunit
using Xunit;
public class ApiTests {
  [Fact]
  public void TestGetEndpoint() {
    // Arrange
    var controller = new MyController();
    // Act
    var result = controller.Get();
    // Assert
    Assert.NotNull(result);
  }
}
// Frontend Unit Test Example: Testing API Connection with Jest
npm install --save-dev jest axios-mock-adapter
import api from './services/api';
import MockAdapter from 'axios-mock-adapter';
const mock = new MockAdapter(api);
test('should fetch data from API', async () => {
  mock.onGet('/endpoint').reply(200, { data: 'test' });
  const response = await api.get('/endpoint');
  expect(response.data).toEqual({ data: 'test' });
});

Troubleshooting SDK and Project Setup Conflicts in Visual Studio

When working on a ReactJS frontend with a .NET Core API backend, managing SDK dependencies in Visual Studio 2022 can be tricky, especially when errors such as “The SDK microsoft.visualstudio.javascript.sdk/1.0.1184077 specified could not be found” appear. This issue often arises because Visual Studio’s JavaScript SDK is incompatible with the current project setup, or because the project contains only a backend without an initial React framework. Visual Studio prioritizes configurations for .NET environments, making JavaScript dependencies hard to integrate. Since React is a front-end-focused library, attempting to initiate it within Visual Studio without pre-installed SDKs can quickly lead to SDK or dependency errors, turning a straightforward setup into a frustrating experience. 🔍

A lesser-known aspect to manage is the role of project dependencies in the Solution Explorer. By modifying the Project Dependencies in the solution properties, we can ensure the frontend builds before the backend, which is particularly important in integrated solutions where the backend relies on an initialized frontend. Additionally, developers can face issues with build order in multi-project solutions, as React projects may require API configurations that don’t exist until the backend is built. The need to install specific SDKs and adjust build dependencies means that understanding Visual Studio’s build settings, along with React’s independent npm setup, is essential for a smooth development process.

To avoid these issues, many developers opt to set up React independently and later integrate it with .NET Core through API calls. This approach allows full control over both environments and avoids unnecessary SDK conflicts in Visual Studio. Independent setup ensures that project dependencies don’t clash, and it reduces the need for workarounds. Establishing React separately and linking through a base URL in Axios enables efficient data communication, making it easier to test and deploy both projects without build order conflicts. 🚀