A clean, scalable starter template for backend projects using Node.js, Express, and JWT authentication — built for speed, structure, and security.
✅ Structured project architecture
✅ JWT-based authentication (login & protected routes)
✅ Environment-based config management
✅ Middleware for errors, auth, and logging
✅ Modular routing and controller pattern
✅ Ready-to-use User model (MongoDB)
✅ Built-in input validation
✅ Easily extendable for any backend API
/
├── config/ # App & DB config (env, connection setup)
├── controllers/ # Route handlers (business logic)
├── middleware/ # Auth, error handling, and custom middleware
├── models/ # Mongoose models (e.g., User)
├── routes/ # Modular API route definitions
├── utils/ # Utility functions (e.g., token generation)
├── .env.example # Sample environment variables
├── server.js # Entry point of the application
└── README.md- Users authenticate via email/password
- JWT token is issued on login
- Protected routes validate JWT before granting access
- Node.js
- Express.js
- MongoDB + Mongoose
- jsonwebtoken
- dotenv
- bcryptjs
- (Optional: Add any others used)
git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/<repo-name>.git
cd <repo-name>- Install dependencies
npm install- Setup environment variables Copy .env.example to .env and fill in the values:
PORT=5000
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_uri
JWT_SECRET=your_secret_key
- Run the app
npm run devServer will start at: http://localhost:5000
Auth POST /api/auth/register – Register a new user
POST /api/auth/login – Login and receive JWT
User (Protected) GET /api/user/profile – Get user details (requires JWT)
More routes can be added easily following the same pattern.
Add other models (e.g., Post, Product)
Add roles/permissions
Plug in Redis, PostgreSQL, or other services
Integrate with frontend (React, Vue, etc.)
Folder separation by concern
Minimal but robust auth flow
Environment-based config
Error and exception handling
Modular design for scalability
This project is open-source and available under the MIT License.
Maintained by shubhansu-kr Pull requests, issues, and forks are welcome!