create-guten-block VS create-react-app

Sounds like you're on the right track. You can go with a template, but I'd only recommend that if you're trying to stick to PHP. Instead, checkout create-guten-block as a starting framework for your custom block.

I used to dislike it too, but I started using ACF Gutenberg blocks along with create-guten-block and I find it pretty flexible and useful now.

Create React App (CRA) abstracts away the complexity of configuring Webpack, Babel, and other build tools, allowing developers to focus on writing React code. It includes features such as hot module reloading for efficient development.

Immerse yourself in the official Create React App documentation for a deeper understanding.

Create React App (https://create-react-app.dev/)

- And ofc, there are some templates/frameworks that bring something of that together (https://create-react-app.dev/; maybe https://vitejs.dev/) - google for templates.

I recommend finding some friend with modern experience or at least some youtube tutorials or at least some learning course. That would help you to catch up on the best way to bootstrap your first project. Then you can practice.

What's the connection?

Also, take a look at this response from 2021: https://github.com/facebook/create-react-app/discussions/117...

Create React App Documentation

Inside the react-tutorial-app folder, to create a new React project runs the following command using create-react-appand for more details on how create-react-app works and other staff, please visit the official website: https://create-react-app.dev/

Before we embark on our journey, make sure you have React installed and a React project set up. If not, fear not! Create React App is your trusty sidekick for a quick start.