You can set up a Cloudflare Worker either in the Workers & Pages dashboard or with Cloudflare’s command-line tools. The dashboard is a browser-based route; the CLI creates a local project you can edit, run with Wrangler, and deploy. For the CLI path, you need a Cloudflare account and Node.js.
Choose the dashboard or CLI workflow
| Route | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | Create an app from a template, connect a Git provider, or start from a public repository in Workers & Pages. A successful deployment can be previewed on its workers.dev subdomain. | You want a browser-based setup and deployment flow. |
| CLI | Use C3 to scaffold a project on your computer, edit its source, run it locally with Wrangler, and deploy from the terminal. | You want to work in a local editor or use a repeatable project workflow. |
Cloudflare documents both routes; neither is the right choice for every project. Follow the dashboard steps if you prefer a hosted flow, or use the CLI steps below for a local project. Cloudflare’s dashboard guide
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What you need for the CLI setup
- A Cloudflare account.
- Node.js. Use a supported, maintained release and check the current Wrangler requirements before installing.
- A supported operating system for Wrangler: macOS 13.5 or later, Windows 11, or a Linux distribution that supports glib 2.35.
A Node version manager can make it easier to manage Node.js versions. Cloudflare recommends installing Wrangler locally in each project; its documented npm command is npm i -D wrangler@latest. Check Wrangler installation and operating-system requirements.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCreate a Worker project with C3
- Open a terminal and run
npm create cloudflare@latest -- my-first-worker. - Answer the setup prompts. C3, Cloudflare’s create-cloudflare tool, asks you to choose a project template and configuration.
- For a minimal first project, follow the Hello World Worker-only example. Cloudflare’s beginner path uses JavaScript and lets you defer deployment so you can edit the project first.
- Open the generated project in your editor. It includes a Wrangler configuration file, a source entry point, and package metadata. Exact filenames and generated contents can vary with the selected template and tooling version.
Cloudflare’s CLI quickstart and First Worker learning path show the setup flow and beginner example.
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Run the Worker locally
- In a terminal, change to the project directory created by C3.
- Start the local development server with
npx wrangler dev. - Edit the generated source entry point, then use the local development session to check your changes.
Wrangler provides the local development command; its documented commands are listed in Cloudflare’s Workers Wrangler command reference. Cloudflare’s Wrangler documentation notes that Workers execute in workerd, the open-source Cloudflare Workers runtime. Wrangler installation documentation
Deploy the Worker
- From the project directory, run
npx wrangler deploy. - If you have not configured a workers.dev subdomain or domain, Wrangler prompts you during publishing.
- After deployment, open the Worker at its workers.dev URL or configure a custom domain as the destination.
The CLI guide documents both deployment destinations. For a dashboard deployment, use the route described in Cloudflare’s dashboard guide.
Add bindings only when your app needs them
Bindings let a Worker interact with other resources on Cloudflare’s Developer Platform. Choose bindings according to what the application needs; a basic Hello World Worker does not require you to add services just to complete the first deployment. Cloudflare explains bindings in its CLI guide and dashboard guide.
Where to check limits and pricing
The setup guides point to separate Workers limits and pricing documentation but do not establish current amounts. Check Cloudflare’s current official limits and pricing pages before choosing a plan or estimating usage; the setup instructions alone are not enough to determine either.
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