better-ts-stack

Generate production-ready TypeScript apps from an interactive CLI

better-ts-stack scaffolds backend and full-stack TypeScript projects with sensible defaults, batteries-included tooling, and optional database, auth, Docker, and git setup.

Quick Start

# Run instantly with npx
npx better-ts-stack

# Or install globally
npm install -g better-ts-stack
better-ts-stack

Run the command, answer the prompts, and the CLI generates a ready-to-work project for you.

What It Can Scaffold

| Project type | Stack | Optional setup | | -------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Backend API | Express + TypeScript | PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Prisma, Drizzle, Mongoose, JWT auth, Docker, git | | Full-stack app | Next.js 16 + React 19 + TypeScript | PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Prisma, Better Auth, Docker, git |

Notes:

• Express is the current backend implementation.
• NestJS appears in the prompt flow as "Coming Soon".
• Better Auth is only available for full-stack projects when a database is selected.

Interactive Prompt Flow

The CLI is fully interactive. There are no subcommands or flags.

You will be guided through:

1. Project name
2. Application type: Backend API or Full-stack App
3. Backend framework for backend apps: Express (NestJS is coming soon)
4. Database: none, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB
5. ORM/ODM when a database is selected
   • PostgreSQL: Prisma or Drizzle
   • MongoDB: Mongoose
6. Package manager: npm, pnpm, or bun
7. Docker setup
8. Authentication
   • Express apps: JWT-based auth
   • Next.js apps: Better Auth when a database is enabled
9. Git initialization
10. Dependency installation

The CLI does not ask for a port. Backend projects default to PORT=3000.

What You Get

Every generated project includes the essentials:

• TypeScript with strict mode enabled
• ESLint and Prettier pre-configured
• .env.example and .env setup
• Ready-to-run project scripts
• Health check endpoint at /health for backend projects
• shadcn-compatible UI foundation for Next.js projects
• Database wiring and schema setup when selected
• Authentication scaffolding when selected
• Docker files when selected
• Optional git repository initialization

Requirements

• Node.js 24 or later

Links

• Documentation
• GitHub Repository
• Issue Tracker

License

MIT

Release 1.0.8

Requires Node.js 24+. Dependencies and templates use current stable releases, with TypeScript 6.0.3 held for typescript-eslint compatibility and Node.js types aligned to 24.x. Express and Next.js support PostgreSQL with Prisma or Drizzle and MongoDB with Mongoose. Prisma generation runs before builds; Docker uses Node.js 24 and Compose v2.

See upgrade notes for compatibility changes and maintainer publishing commands.