I'd replace at least the other front strut at the same time, if not all 4 shocks / struts. Replacing only one strut and leaving 3 other worn ones in there will probably throw your handling off and might make the car squirrelly over bumps.
Loop a chain around the spring coils and something else attached to the car before you take the spring / strut assembly apart, to eliminate the chance that the spring will suddenly fly out and hit you when you take it apart. When I did it, I locked it together with a keyed padlock. Mine didn't end up hardly moving at all, but the danger is there.
You can rent a spring compressor from Autozone for free. You just have to put down a (100% refundable) deposit. Although, when I did it I didn't have a compressor - so, I bolted the strut mount to the car, installed the shock assembly and spring, and used a jack to carefully raise the lower control arm, compress the spring, and push the strut thru the mount enough for me to get the nut on it. I had lowering springs though, which were shorter than stock - I don't know if that method would work with the factory springs or not, as they might be too tall.
When you install the spring on the strut, make sure the flat side of the spring is the side that goes into the upper mount, and the end of the bottom coil seats into the "pocket" on the strut.
Don't forget to undo any brake hose bolts attaching the hose to the strut before pulling the struts out!
Soak any and all fasteners that you will have to remove (especially lower strut bolts) with PB blaster far in advance of the project. You will thank yourself when you do it, especially if you are in an area where they salt in the winter.
A solid impact wrench is your friend here. Or, have a good breaker bar and a few feet of cheater pipe handy for stubborn bolts.
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