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Build a MERN app without starting from zero

The MERN course starter gives you a working React application, Express API, MongoDB database, authentication, emails and emails in one repository. You can begin building your project instead of spending your first week wiring tools together.

The decisions for the tech stack have been made to simplify development, avail free tiers and use well known and reliable products used by millions of developers. See the reference for the complete tech stack

Read this site in order if this is your first full-stack app. It starts with getting the project running, then covers the decisions that shape its interface, followed by the parts users depend on most: accounts, data, and safe API input.

  • Start here

    Install the workspace and run the client, server, and database together.

  • Design and UI

    Choose a visual direction before generating components or writing screens.

  • Build your app

    Build authentication, data, routes, UI, validation, and email features. - Code quality

    Formatting, linting, tests, and documentation for the whole workspace. - Deployment

    Deno Deploy with MongoDB Atlas, Docker Compose, and production builds. - Reference

    Commands, API endpoints, the security checklist, and starter references.

What is included

  • pnpm workspace with apps/client, apps/server, and packages/shared
  • React 19 + Vite 8 + TanStack Router (file-based routes)
  • Express 5 with async-aware error handling and Better Auth sessions
  • MongoDB through Mongoose, plus Better Auth's MongoDB adapter
  • React Email templates, Resend delivery, and Tailwind CSS v4
  • Biome formatting and linting, plus Node-based tests

How to use these docs

Newcomers should read Start here, Design and UI, then Build your app. Contributors can use Code quality as their finishing checklist; operators can start with Deployment.

References