Node Express Backend Template for Beginners 🚀

Welcome to the Node Express Backend Template! This template is your starting point for learning backend development with Node.js and Express.js. It’s designed to be beginner-friendly, with detailed instructions and helpful resources to guide you through the process. 🎓

Who is this for? 🤔

This template is perfect for beginner students who are just starting their journey in backend development. Whether you're new to coding or have some experience, this template will help you build your first backend application step-by-step. 🛠️

For intermediates try Backend template for Intermediates

If you're feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry—we've included plenty of resources and explanations to make your learning experience smooth and enjoyable. 🌟

Table of Contents

Section	Link
Overview	Overview
Learning Resources	Learning Resources
Repo Structure	Repo Structure
Features	Features
Usage	Usage
Tips for Beginners	Tips for Beginners
Contribution	Contribution
License	License
Getting Started	Getting Started

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Overview 🌟

This repository provides a comprehensive template for backend projects, designed to streamline the setup process and ensure best practices are followed. It includes configurations for Node.js with Express.js, database integration using Sequelize ORM, and essential middleware for authentication and validation. The template is CI/CD ready, making it easy to deploy and maintain. 🚀

Learning Resources 📚

If you're new to backend development, here are some resources to help you get started:

Node.js and Express.js Basics

• Node.js Official Documentation: Learn about Node.js, its features, and how to use it. 🟢
• Express.js Official Documentation: Get familiar with Express.js and its powerful routing and middleware features. ⚡
• MDN Web Docs: HTTP Basics: Understand the basics of HTTP, the protocol used by web servers and clients. 🌐
• Codecademy: Learn Node.js: An interactive course to help you learn Node.js from scratch. 🎓

Git and GitHub 🛠️

• Git Documentation: Learn how to use Git for version control. 🔄
• GitHub Guides: Explore guides on using GitHub to host your code and collaborate with others. 🤝

Additional Learning Paths

• FreeCodeCamp: Backend Development: Free courses on backend development and APIs. 🆓
• The Odin Project: Node.js: A comprehensive course on backend development with Node.js. 🛤️

Repo Structure 📁

For more detailed information on each folder and file, please refer to the corresponding README pages linked below:

• Config: ⚙️ Configuration files for the backend application, including database settings and environment variables.
• Controllers: 🧠 Business logic functions that handle incoming requests and send responses to the client.
• Middleware: 🛡️ Middleware functions that handle specific tasks, such as authentication and validation, between the client request and the server response.
• Models: 🗄️ Database ORM models that define the structure and relationships of the database tables.
• Routes: 🛣️ Route definitions that determine the control flow of the API, specifying how incoming requests are handled and responded to.
• Utils: 🧰 General, reusable functionalities unrelated to API, such as file archiving, date formatting, form data manipulation, JSON transformation, logging, mailing, QR code generation, encryption, and token management.
• Validators: ✔️ Middleware functions for request object validation.

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Features 🌟

• Beginner-Friendly Setup: Pre-configured with Node.js and Express.js, so you can start building your backend without extra setup. 🛠️

• Basic Database Integration using Sequelize ORM: Connect easily to a SQL database using Sequelize ORM. 🗃️

• Basic Authentication Setup: Simple setup for user login and registration using JWT (JSON Web Tokens). 🔐

• Organized Code Structure: Clear, organized folders make it easy to navigate and understand the codebase. 🗂️

• Validation Middleware: Ensure the data entering your application is correct. ✅

• Environment Management: Use a .env file to manage settings for different environments (development, production). 🌍

• Error Handling: Built-in error handling to manage issues during development. 🚨

• Security Basics: Basic security settings to help protect your application. 🔒

• Detailed Documentation: Clear instructions and explanations to help you learn as you go. 📚

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Usage ⚙️

For detailed instructions on how to use this template, including examples, please refer to the Usage Guide. Follow these steps to start using this template: 🚀

Getting Started

1. Clone the Repository: Begin by cloning the repository to your local machine using the command:

   git clone <repository-url>

2. Install Dependencies: Navigate to the project directory and install the necessary dependencies:

npm install

3. Set Up Environment Variables: Create a .env file in the root directory and configure your environment variables as needed. Refer to the example.env file for guidance.

Running the Application

1. Start the Development Server: Use the following command to start the development server:

npm run dev

This will launch the application locally, allowing you to see your changes in real-time.

2. Build for Production: When you’re ready to deploy, build the application for production using:

npm run build

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Tips for Beginners 💡

Starting with backend development can feel overwhelming, but here are some tips to help you use this template effectively:

Take it Step-by-Step 🐢

• Start Small: Focus on one part of the codebase at a time. Begin with understanding how routes work, then move on to controllers, models, and so on. 🧩
• Use the Documentation: Refer to the README.md files in each folder to deepen your understanding of each part of the code. 📄
• Experiment: Try modifying small parts of the code to see how it affects the application. This is a great way to learn by doing. 🛠️

Use the Resources 🌐

• Refer to Official Docs: The Node.js and Express.js documentation is a great resource whenever you get stuck. 📚
• Join Communities: Don’t hesitate to ask for help in forums like Stack Overflow or Reddit’s LearnProgramming. 💬

Don’t Rush ⏳

• Take Breaks: Learning to code can be intense. Take breaks and come back with a fresh mind. 🌟
• Focus on Understanding: It’s better to understand a concept thoroughly than to rush through multiple topics without grasping them fully. 🎯

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Creating a Good README 📚

A well-crafted README is essential for any project. It serves as the first point of contact for users and contributors, providing them with a clear understanding of the project’s purpose, setup instructions, and contribution guidelines. For suggestions on how to create a good README, please refer to the Good README Guide. ✨

Contribution 🤝

Contributions to enhance the structure or add new features to this boilerplate are welcome. Here are some ways you can contribute:

• Reporting Bugs: 🐛 If you find a bug, please report it by opening an issue.
• Feature Requests: 💡 If you have an idea for a new feature, feel free to suggest it.
• Pull Requests: 🔄 If you want to contribute code, fork the repository and create a pull request with your changes.

Please check out our Contributing Guide for more details.

License 📜

This project is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, provided that you include the original copyright and license notice in any copies of the software. For more details, see the LICENSE file. 🆓

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Getting Started 🚀

Follow these steps to start using this template:

1. Clone the Repository: 🖥️ Clone the repository to your local machine.
2. Install Dependencies: 📦 Install the required dependencies using npm install or yarn install.
3. Set Up Configuration: ⚙️ Configure the database settings and environment variables in the config folder.
4. Start the Application: ▶️ Start the application using npm start or yarn start.
5. Interact with the API: 🌐 Use the API endpoints defined in the routes folder to interact with the application.

For more detailed setup instructions, see the Setup Guide. 📖

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❤️ Sponsor Me

If you appreciate my work and would like to support me, consider sponsoring me! Your support helps me continue to create and maintain open-source projects. 🙏

• Why Sponsor?: Sponsoring helps sustain the development of open-source projects and allows creators to dedicate more time to their work. 💪

🍴 Fork this Repository

Fork this repository to customize or contribute to the project! Forking allows you to make changes independently and contribute back through pull requests. 🔄

• Why Fork?: Forking lets you create your own copy of the project for personal modifications or development, and it enables collaboration through pull requests. 🛠️

🌟 Star this Repository

Show your support by starring this repository! Starring helps us gauge interest and lets others know that this project is valuable. ⭐

• Why Star?: Starring helps indicate the project's usefulness and can attract more contributors. 📈

📄 Use This Template

This repository is designed as a template for creating Express.js APIs. You can use this template to kickstart your own projects by clicking the Use this template button on GitHub. 🚀