feat: v0.2.0 - Add Counter template with hybrid approach and require Node.js 22+

🌟 New Features:
- Hybrid template system: bundled (Hello World) + remote (Counter, future templates)
- Counter template now available - clones from midnightntwrk/example-counter
- Smart requirement checking before cloning (Node.js, Docker, Compact compiler)
- Template-specific setup guides with intelligent instructions
- Git repository cloning with automatic cleanup

🔧 Breaking Change:
- Node.js 22+ now required for ALL templates (was 18+)
- Enforced at CLI startup for consistent experience
- Updated package.json engines field

✨ Technical Implementation:
- New utilities: git-cloner.ts, requirement-checker.ts, setup-guide.ts
- Template type differentiation (bundled vs remote)
- Automatic requirement validation before project creation
- Context-aware success messages per template type
- Clean separation between bundled and remote template workflows

📚 Documentation:
- Updated README with Counter template details
- Added requirement notes and installation guides
- Clarified Node.js 22+ requirement
- Template-specific setup instructions

Counter template includes full example from Midnight Network with:
- Smart contract in Compact language
- CLI interface for interaction
- Testnet deployment ready
- ZK proof integration

Author: Olanetsoft

README.md

@@ -157,11 +157,24 @@ A simple message storage contract demonstrating:
 npx create-mn-app my-app --template hello-world
 ```
 
-### 🔜 Coming Soon
+#### **Counter DApp**
+
+Real-world example from midnightntwrk demonstrating:
+
+- Increment/decrement state management
+- Zero-knowledge proofs on testnet
+- Compact compiler integration
+- Full CLI interface
 
-#### **Counter**
+```bash
+npx create-mn-app my-counter --template counter
+```
 
-Simple increment/decrement app demonstrating state management
+_Automatically cloned from [midnightntwrk/example-counter](https://github.com/midnightntwrk/example-counter)_
+
+**Requirements:** Node.js 22+, Docker, Compact compiler
+
+### 🔜 Coming Soon
 
 #### **Bulletin Board (Bboard)**
 
@@ -177,11 +190,14 @@ Full stack DApp using NFT smart contract library (Crypto Kitties on Midnight)
 
 _These templates are under development. Star the repo to stay updated!_
 
-## Requirements
+## ⚙️ Requirements
 
-- **Node.js** 18.0.0 or higher
+- **Node.js** 22.0.0 or higher (required for all templates)
 - **Docker** (for running the proof server)
-- **npm**, **yarn**, or **pnpm** package manager
+- **npm**, **yarn**, **pnpm**, or **bun** package manager
+- **Compact Compiler** (required for Counter and future templates - CLI will guide installation)
+
+> **Note:** The CLI automatically checks Node.js version on startup and will guide you if an upgrade is needed.
 
 ## 📦 Package Manager Options
 
@@ -276,13 +292,13 @@ If you see "Node.js Version Error":
 # Check your version
 node --version
 
-# Install Node.js 18+ from https://nodejs.org
+# Install Node.js 22+ from https://nodejs.org
 # Or use nvm:
-nvm install --lts
-nvm use --lts
+nvm install 22
+nvm use 22
 ```
 
-The CLI automatically checks for Node.js 18+ before running!
+The CLI automatically checks for Node.js 22+ before running!
 
 ### Environment issues
 

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "create-mn-app",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.2.0",
   "description": "Create Midnight Network applications with zero configuration",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "bin": {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     "typescript": "^5.0.0"
   },
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=18.0.0"
+    "node": ">=22.0.0"
   },
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",

src/cli.ts

@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ import { ErrorHandler } from "./utils/error-handler.js";
 
 const program = new Command();
 
-// Check Node.js version before anything else
-ErrorHandler.checkNodeVersion(18);
+// Check Node.js version before anything else (require 22+)
+ErrorHandler.checkNodeVersion(22);
 
 program
   .name("create-midnight-app")
   .description("Create a new Midnight Network application")
-  .version("0.1.0")
+  .version("0.2.0")
   .argument("[project-directory]", "Directory name for your project")
   .option(
     "-t, --template <name>",

src/create-app.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import { TemplateManager } from "./utils/template-manager.js";
 import { WalletGenerator } from "./installers/wallet-generator.js";
 import { ProofServerSetup } from "./installers/proof-server-setup.js";
 import { GitUtils } from "./utils/git-utils.js";
+import { GitCloner } from "./utils/git-cloner.js";
+import { RequirementChecker } from "./utils/requirement-checker.js";
+import { SetupGuide } from "./utils/setup-guide.js";
 import {
   detectPackageManager,
   getPackageManagerInfo,
@@ -167,14 +170,21 @@ export async function createApp(
     options
   );
 
-  // Success message and instructions
+  // Success message - only show for bundled templates
+  const template = getTemplate(selectedTemplate);
+  if (template && template.type === "bundled") {
+    displayBundledSuccessMessage(projectName!, pmInfo);
+  }
+}
+
+function displayBundledSuccessMessage(projectName: string, pmInfo: any): void {
   console.log();
   console.log(chalk.green.bold("━".repeat(60)));
   console.log(chalk.green.bold("🎉 Success! Your Midnight app is ready."));
   console.log(chalk.green.bold("━".repeat(60)));
   console.log();
   console.log(chalk.white.bold("📂 Project created at:"));
-  console.log(`   ${chalk.cyan(projectPath)}`);
+  console.log(`   ${chalk.cyan(projectName)}`);
   console.log();
   console.log(chalk.white.bold("🚀 Next Steps:"));
   console.log();
@@ -224,20 +234,115 @@ export async function createApp(
 async function createProject(
   projectPath: string,
   projectName: string,
-  template: string,
+  templateName: string,
   packageManager: PackageManager,
   options: CreateAppOptions
 ): Promise<void> {
   const pmInfo = getPackageManagerInfo(packageManager);
+  const template = getTemplate(templateName);
+
+  if (!template) {
+    throw new Error(`Template "${templateName}" not found`);
+  }
 
   // Create project directory
   await fs.ensureDir(projectPath);
   process.chdir(projectPath);
 
+  // Handle different template types
+  if (template.type === "remote") {
+    await createRemoteTemplate(
+      projectPath,
+      projectName,
+      template,
+      packageManager,
+      options
+    );
+  } else {
+    await createBundledTemplate(
+      projectPath,
+      projectName,
+      template,
+      packageManager,
+      options
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+async function createRemoteTemplate(
+  projectPath: string,
+  projectName: string,
+  template: any,
+  packageManager: PackageManager,
+  options: CreateAppOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  const pmInfo = getPackageManagerInfo(packageManager);
+
+  // Check requirements before cloning
+  if (template.requiresCompactCompiler || template.nodeVersion) {
+    const checks = [];
+
+    if (template.nodeVersion) {
+      checks.push(RequirementChecker.checkNodeVersion(template.nodeVersion));
+    }
+
+    checks.push(RequirementChecker.checkDocker());
+
+    if (template.requiresCompactCompiler) {
+      checks.push(RequirementChecker.checkCompactCompiler());
+    }
+
+    const allPassed = RequirementChecker.displayResults(checks);
+
+    if (!allPassed) {
+      console.log(
+        chalk.yellow("\n⚠ Please install missing requirements and try again.\n")
+      );
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Clone repository
+  const cloneSpinner = ora(
+    `Cloning ${template.display} from GitHub...`
+  ).start();
+  try {
+    await GitCloner.clone(template.repo!, projectPath);
+    cloneSpinner.succeed(`Cloned ${template.display}`);
+    SetupGuide.displayPostCloneMessage(template.name);
+  } catch (error) {
+    cloneSpinner.fail("Failed to clone repository");
+    throw error;
+  }
+
+  // Initialize git (since we removed .git from cloned repo)
+  if (!options.skipGit) {
+    const gitSpinner = ora("Initializing git repository...").start();
+    try {
+      await GitUtils.init(projectPath);
+      gitSpinner.succeed("Git repository initialized");
+    } catch (error) {
+      gitSpinner.warn("Git repository initialization skipped");
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Display setup instructions
+  SetupGuide.getInstructions(template.name, projectName, packageManager);
+}
+
+async function createBundledTemplate(
+  projectPath: string,
+  projectName: string,
+  template: any,
+  packageManager: PackageManager,
+  options: CreateAppOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  const pmInfo = getPackageManagerInfo(packageManager);
+
   // Initialize template
   const templateSpinner = ora("Creating project structure...").start();
   try {
-    const templateManager = new TemplateManager(template);
+    const templateManager = new TemplateManager(template.name);
     await templateManager.scaffold(projectPath, projectName);
     templateSpinner.succeed("Project structure created");
   } catch (error) {

src/utils/git-cloner.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { execSync } from "child_process";
+import fs from "fs-extra";
+import path from "path";
+import chalk from "chalk";
+
+export class GitCloner {
+  /**
+   * Clone a GitHub repository
+   */
+  static async clone(
+    repo: string,
+    targetPath: string,
+    branch: string = "main"
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const repoUrl = `https://github.com/${repo}.git`;
+
+    try {
+      // Check if git is available
+      execSync("git --version", { stdio: "ignore" });
+    } catch {
+      throw new Error(
+        "Git is not installed. Please install Git from https://git-scm.com"
+      );
+    }
+
+    try {
+      // Clone with depth 1 for faster cloning
+      execSync(
+        `git clone --depth 1 --branch ${branch} ${repoUrl} "${targetPath}"`,
+        { stdio: "pipe" }
+      );
+
+      // Remove .git directory to make it a fresh project
+      const gitDir = path.join(targetPath, ".git");
+      if (fs.existsSync(gitDir)) {
+        await fs.remove(gitDir);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Failed to clone repository ${repo}. Please check your internet connection and try again.`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if git is available
+   */
+  static isGitAvailable(): boolean {
+    try {
+      execSync("git --version", { stdio: "ignore" });
+      return true;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+}