Node.js Express Boilerplate: Best Practices for Project Structure
Purpose
This boilerplate repository offers a well-structured and scalable foundation for Node.js Express projects, emphasizing industry best practices in folder architecture and file organization. While it does not provide a functional implementation, it serves as a valuable starting point for building robust and maintainable applications.
Key Principles
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Modularity: Clear separation of concerns into logical folders for enhanced maintainability.
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Scalability: A structure designed to accommodate project growth and evolving complexity.
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Best Practices: Adherence to established Node.js and Express conventions for a familiar development experience.
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Documentation: Emphasis on thorough explanations within each folder to promote understanding.
Project Structure Overview
-
root directory
-
docker/ - Docker configuration for containerizing the application. docker.md - Detailed instructions and documentation for using Docker with this project.
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docs/ - Project knowledge base and development documentation. docs.md - Detailed instructions and documentation for using this project.
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scripts/ - Custom scripts for development, deployment, and utilities. scripts.md - Detailed instructions and documentation for using scripts.
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src/ - The core source code of the application. src.md - Detailed instructions and documentation for using the source code.
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test/ - Unit, integration, and end-to-end tests. test.md - Detailed instructions and documentation for running tests.
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.editorconfig: Specifies basic code editor settings (indentation style, line endings, etc.). This ensures code looks the same regardless of the editor used by individual developers.
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.eslintignore: Indicates files and directories that should be excluded from ESLint's code quality checks.
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.eslintrc: The core configuration file for ESLint. It defines the JavaScript linting rules and stylistic preferences enforced in the project.
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.gitattributes: Allows customization of how Git handles certain files within your repository (e.g., specifying line endings, merge strategies).
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.gitignore: Lists files and patterns to prevent accidental committing of development artifacts, sensitive data, or large generated files to version control.
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.npmignore: Similar to
.gitignore
but specifically for npm packaging. It controls what's excluded when publishing your project as an npm module.
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.npmrc: Contains configuration options for the npm package manager. This can be used for setting registry URLs, proxy settings, and other npm behaviors.
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.nvmrc: Specifies a Node.js version for the project. Using Node Version Manager (nvm) helps ensure all developers use the same version, preventing compatibility issues.
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.prettierrc: Configures the Prettier code formatter with preferred formatting rules (semicolons, spacing, quotes, etc.). This promotes code style homogeneity within the project.
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.snyk: Likely used for Snyk dependency vulnerability scanning. This file holds configuration options related to integrating Snyk into your development workflow.
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CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md: Guidelines for community interaction and collaboration.
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CONTRIBUTING.md: Instructions for contributing to the project.
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LICENSE: The license governing the use and distribution of the project.
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README.md: Overview of the project, its structure, and key files.
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package.json: Metadata and dependencies for the Node.js project.
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package-lock.json: Lock file automatically generated for any operations where npm modifies either the
node_modules
tree or package.json
.
Getting Started
- Clone this repository.
- Install dependencies (
npm install
)
- Review and customize configuration files as needed.
- Refer to the documentation within each folder for guidance on how to build out your application.
Run tests
- Run
npm test
to execute all tests.
Community Contributions
This boilerplate aims to be a collaborative resource. Feel free to suggest improvements, refinements, or alternative approaches via pull requests or discussions.