stack-starter

A simple project scaffolding CLI for creating frontend, backend, and fullstack starter projects fast.

Use it when you want a clean React, HTML, Node.js, or fullstack setup without copying the same files again and again.

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Features

Feature	Included
React frontend	Vite + React starter
HTML frontend	HTML, CSS, and JavaScript starter
Node backend	Express server with CORS and dotenv
Fullstack setup	Frontend and backend in one project
Package managers	npm, yarn, and pnpm
Custom backend port	--port option
Git setup	Optional git init and first commit
Presets	Quick frontend, backend, and fullstack modes

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Installation

Install globally:

npm install -g stack-starter-cli

Then run:

stack-starter

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Usage

Start in interactive mode:

stack-starter

Create a project and answer the remaining questions:

stack-starter my-app

Create a project directly with flags:

stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm pnpm --git

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Command Examples

React only

stack-starter my-react-app --react

Backend only

stack-starter my-api --node

Fullstack

stack-starter my-fullstack-app --react --node

HTML frontend with backend

stack-starter my-site --html --node

Custom backend port

stack-starter my-api --node --port 8000

Git initialization

stack-starter my-app --react --node --git

pnpm usage

stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm pnpm

yarn usage

stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm yarn

Presets

stack-starter my-app --preset fullstack
stack-starter my-app --preset frontend
stack-starter my-app --preset backend

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Available Flags

Flag	Description	Example
--react	Create a React.js frontend with Vite	stack-starter app --react
--html	Create an HTML/CSS/JavaScript frontend	stack-starter app --html
--node	Create a Node.js Express backend	stack-starter app --node
--port	Set the backend port	stack-starter app --node --port 8000
--pm	Choose npm, yarn, or pnpm	stack-starter app --pm pnpm
--git	Initialize Git after project creation	stack-starter app --git
--preset	Use fullstack, frontend, or backend	stack-starter app --preset fullstack
--help	Show help	stack-starter --help
--version	Show package version	stack-starter --version

Unknown flags stop the CLI before prompts start:

stack-starter app --randomFlag

Output:

Invalid flag(s):
--randomFlag

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Presets

Presets are quick setup modes.

Preset	What it does
fullstack	Lets you choose React + Node.js or HTML + Node.js
frontend	Lets you choose React or HTML
backend	Creates a Node.js Express backend

Examples:

stack-starter my-app --preset fullstack
stack-starter my-site --preset frontend
stack-starter my-api --preset backend

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Generated Project Structure Examples

React + Node.js

my-app/
  client/
    src/
    package.json
  server/
    index.js
    .env
    package.json
  .gitignore
  README.md

HTML + Node.js

my-app/
  client/
    index.html
    style.css
    script.js
  server/
    index.js
    .env
    package.json
  .gitignore
  README.md

Backend only

my-api/
  server/
    index.js
    .env
    package.json
  .gitignore
  README.md

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Package Manager Support

Choose your package manager with --pm.

stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm npm
stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm yarn
stack-starter my-app --react --node --pm pnpm

Backend initialization uses the selected package manager:

Use the same package manager to run the project later.

npm

npm run dev

yarn

yarn dev

pnpm

pnpm dev

Package manager	Backend init	Install dependencies
npm	npm init -y	npm install
yarn	yarn init -y	yarn add
pnpm	pnpm init	pnpm add

React projects are also created and installed with the selected package manager.

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Git Support

Add --git to initialize a Git repository:

stack-starter my-app --react --node --git

The CLI will run:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

If Git is installed but user.name or user.email is missing, the repository is still initialized and the commit is skipped.

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Example Workflows

Build a React app with npm

stack-starter dashboard --react --pm npm
cd dashboard/client
npm run dev

Build a React app with yarn

stack-starter dashboard --react --pm yarn
cd dashboard/client
yarn dev

Build an Express API

stack-starter api-server --node --port 8000 --pm pnpm
cd api-server/server
pnpm dev

Build a fullstack app with Git

stack-starter product-app --react --node --pm yarn --git
cd product-app

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Why use stack-starter?

• Start projects quickly
• Keep frontend and backend folders organized
• Choose the package manager you already use
• Avoid repeating the same setup steps
• Good for beginners, practice projects, and quick prototypes

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome.

To work locally:

git clone https://github.com/SACHITH31/starter_cli.git
cd starter_cli
npm install
npm start

Please keep changes simple, readable, and focused.

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License

MIT