create-mvc-app

A simple scaffolding tool for creating a starter Node + Express MVC project for students.

This tool copies a predefined project template into a new folder so students can immediately begin working with a consistent structure in class and on assignments.

What this tool does

• Creates a new project folder
• Copies a predefined MVC starter template into it
• Includes example routes, views, static assets, and configuration
• Does not modify files after copying
• Does not run npm install

The generated project is intentionally simple and readable.

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or newer
• npm

Students should create projects in a local folder (Desktop, Documents, or a dedicated projects directory), not inside cloud-synced folders such as OneDrive or iCloud.

Installation

Install the tool globally from the NPM registry:

npm install -g @archerjb/create-mvc-app

Once installed, the create-mvc-app command will be available globally.

Usage

Create a new project by providing a folder name:

create-mvc-app my-app

Then:

cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev

By default, the application will start on:

http://localhost:8001

Generated project structure

The scaffolded project follows a basic MVC layout:

public/
src/
  controller/
  model/
  routers/
  services/
  utility/
  views/
app.js
server.js

The project includes:

• An example EJS-rendered page
• A static HTML page served from /public
• Shared CSS and images
• Example files to demonstrate structure

Students are expected to modify or replace the example files as the course progresses.

Purpose

This tool exists to:

• Standardize project setup across a class
• Reduce time spent on boilerplate
• Reinforce MVC concepts through structure
• Keep focus on Node, Express, and core JavaScript

There is no build step and no framework abstraction beyond Express.

License

MIT