Create Awesome Node App

The open-source monorepo behind create-awesome-node-app: compose templates and addons into production-ready Node, Web, Full-Stack, Monorepo, and AI-ready projects.

One command. Any stack.

Package README · Official Site · Templates · Extensions · Contributing · Troubleshooting

This repository contains the source code for create-awesome-node-app, the CLI that composes curated templates, addons, custom options, and AI-ready conventions into working projects.

Use this README if you want to understand the codebase, run it locally, contribute a fix, improve documentation, or work on the CLI packages. If you only want to generate an app, start with the package README.

npm create awesome-node-app@latest my-app

Run headlessly for scripts, CI, or platform automation:

npx create-awesome-node-app my-app \
  --template react-vite-boilerplate \
  --addons tailwind-css zustand github-setup \
  --no-interactive

More examples live in the CLI package README.

This is a Node 24+ monorepo managed with npm workspaces and Turborepo.

Template and extension data is maintained in Create-Node-App/cna-templates. This repo consumes that catalog remotely.

Requires Node.js 24.17.0 (the version pinned in .node-version; use fnm use to switch automatically):

git clone https://github.com/Create-Node-App/create-node-app.git
cd create-node-app
fnm use    # reads .node-version
npm install
npm run build

Run the local CLI after building:

./packages/create-awesome-node-app/index.js my-app

Run a non-interactive local smoke test:

./packages/create-awesome-node-app/index.js smoke-app \
  --template react-vite-boilerplate \
  --addons tailwind-css \
  --no-interactive \
  --no-install

1. Read the relevant package README before changing code.
2. Make the smallest correct change.
3. Add or update tests when behavior changes.
4. Run the targeted package checks first.
5. Run broader repo checks before opening a PR.
6. Update docs when commands, behavior, package metadata, or contribution paths change.

For contribution requirements and project expectations, see CONTRIBUTING.md.

npm run build -- --filter create-awesome-node-app
npm run test -- --filter create-awesome-node-app
npm run lint -- --filter create-awesome-node-app

Important files:

• packages/create-awesome-node-app/src/index.ts for CLI flags and execution flow.
• packages/create-awesome-node-app/src/options.ts for interactive and non-interactive option resolution.
• packages/create-awesome-node-app/src/templates.ts for remote catalog loading.
• packages/create-awesome-node-app/src/list.ts for --list-templates and --list-addons output.

npm run build -- --filter @create-node-app/core
npm run test -- --filter @create-node-app/core
npm run lint -- --filter @create-node-app/core

Important files:

• packages/create-node-app-core/index.ts for the main createNodeApp workflow.
• packages/create-node-app-core/loaders.ts for template file discovery and rendering.
• packages/create-node-app-core/paths.ts for local, GitHub, and package path handling.
• packages/create-node-app-core/installer.ts for install command behavior.

Template and extension implementations live in Create-Node-App/cna-templates, not in this monorepo.

Use local file:// URLs when developing templates or extensions before publishing them to the catalog:

npx create-awesome-node-app local-app \
  --template file:///absolute/path/to/my-template \
  --addons file:///absolute/path/to/my-extension \
  --no-interactive

For a template inside a monorepo subdirectory:

npx create-awesome-node-app local-app \
  --template "file:///absolute/path/to/catalog-repo?subdir=templates/my-starter" \
  --no-interactive

Run targeted checks while iterating, then run the broader checks before requesting review.

npx create-awesome-node-app my-react-app --template react-vite-boilerplate
npx create-awesome-node-app my-api --template nestjs-boilerplate
npx create-awesome-node-app my-next --template nextjs-starter

npx create-awesome-node-app my-app \
  --template react-vite-boilerplate \
  --addons tailwind-css zustand

npx create-awesome-node-app my-api \
  --template nestjs-boilerplate \
  --addons drizzle-orm-postgresql openapi

npx create-awesome-node-app my-app \
  --template https://github.com/Create-Node-App/cna-templates/tree/main/templates/react-vite-starter \
  --addons https://github.com/Create-Node-App/cna-templates/tree/main/extensions/react-query

npx create-awesome-node-app layered-app \
  --template react-vite-boilerplate \
  --addons tailwind-css \
  --extend https://github.com/Create-Node-App/cna-templates/tree/main/extensions/react-hook-form

npx create-awesome-node-app debug-app \
  --template react-vite-boilerplate \
  --verbose

The live catalog changes over time. Use the website or CLI listing commands for the current source of truth.

npx create-awesome-node-app --list-templates
npx create-awesome-node-app --template react-vite-boilerplate --list-addons

Common template slugs:

Common addon slugs:

Packages are published from this monorepo. Before publishing, make sure package-level READMEs, changelogs, builds, tests, and package metadata are aligned.

Useful package docs:

• packages/create-awesome-node-app/README.md
• packages/create-node-app-core/README.md
• packages/README.md
• packages/create-awesome-node-app/CHANGELOG.md

Contributions are welcome across docs, CLI behavior, tests, package configuration, shared configs, and developer experience.

Good first steps:

• Read CONTRIBUTING.md.
• Check open issues.
• Use Troubleshooting when local generation fails.
• Open template or addon changes in Create-Node-App/cna-templates.

When opening a PR, include what changed, how you validated it, and whether docs/package metadata were updated.

MIT © Create Node App Contributors

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