⚡ Exon CLI: The Ultimate Express.js Generator & TypeScript Scaffolding Tool

Exon CLI is a modern, ultra-fast Express generator and API scaffolding tool designed to bootstrap production-ready Express.js applications in under 30 seconds. Stop wasting hours manually setting up TypeScript configs, database ORMs, Swagger documentation, Docker files, and structured logging. Exon CLI generates clean, enterprise-grade, standard-compliant boilerplate instantly so you can focus on building features.

Designed as a drop-in, modern replacement for the legacy express-generator, Exon CLI offers fully pre-configured ES Module (ESM) support, a robust runtime plugin ecosystem, and deep TypeScript integration.

npx exon-cli create my-express-api

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🚀 Why Developers Choose Exon CLI

Traditional Express setup is tedious, manual, and prone to configuration errors. Exon CLI turns hours of boilerplating into a single 30-second command.

Legacy express-generator vs. Modern Exon CLI

Feature	Legacy express-generator	⚡ Exon CLI
Language Support	JavaScript only (CommonJS)	TypeScript & JavaScript (ESM)
Scaffolding Time	45 - 90 minutes of extra configs	30 Seconds (Zero-Config)
Database Support	❌ None	Prisma, Mongoose, & Drizzle
API Documentation	❌ None	Auto-generated Swagger/OpenAPI
Containerization	❌ None	Production-ready Docker & Docker Compose
Advanced Logging	❌ Basic console.log	Winston Logger & Morgan Integration
Realtime Features	❌ None	Built-in Socket.IO Setup
Modular Extensibility	❌ Monolithic	Dynamic add/remove Plugin CLI

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📦 Core Features Included

Exon CLI is packed with all the tools required for modern Node.js and Express backend development:

• TypeScript & JavaScript (ESM): Fully-configured tsconfig.json with ESM module resolution (import/export).
• Swagger/OpenAPI Documentation: Interactive API testing UI pre-loaded at /docs.
• Database ORMs/ODMs: Out-of-the-box setups for Prisma, Drizzle, and Mongoose (MongoDB).
• Robust Logging: Enterprise-grade multi-transport logging via Winston and Morgan (console + file log rotation).
• Containerization: Pre-configured Dockerfile, .dockerignore, and multi-container docker-compose.yml.
• Realtime Communication: Pre-integrated Socket.IO server support.
• Production Architecture: Pre-configured global error handling, centralized environment variables schema, and unified async handler wrappers.

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🛠️ CLI Commands & Options Reference

You can run Exon CLI interactively or pass flags to speed up your automation workflows.

1. Project Generation: create <project-name>

Generate a brand-new backend directory with your exact technology choices.

# Interactive setup:
npx exon-cli create my-api

# Non-interactive CLI flags setup:
npx exon-cli create my-api --ts --prisma --docker --logger --swagger --socket

Supported create Flags

Flag	Shorthand	Description
--ts	-t	Generate a TypeScript backend (Default).
--js	-j	Generate a JavaScript backend (ESM).
--prisma	-p	Integrate Prisma ORM (PostgreSQL/MySQL/SQLite).
--mongoose	-m	Integrate Mongoose ODM (MongoDB).
--drizzle	-d	Integrate Drizzle ORM (PostgreSQL/MySQL/SQLite).
--docker	-D	Add Docker configuration (Dockerfile, docker-compose.yml).
--logger	-L	Add structured Winston & Morgan logger.
--swagger	-S	Add interactive Swagger OpenAPI API documentation.
--socket		Add Socket.IO realtime server configuration.

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🔌 Dynamic Plugin Management (add & remove)

One of Exon CLI's most powerful features is its decoupled plugin architecture. If you generated a basic project and later decide you need database integration or Docker containment, you can add or remove them instantly.

Install a Feature

Add a new database, documentation, or containment system to your existing Exon project:

npx exon-cli add swagger
npx exon-cli add logger
npx exon-cli add prisma
npx exon-cli add docker
npx exon-cli add socket

Uninstall a Feature

Cleanly remove any plugin and its configuration files from the project automatically:

npx exon-cli remove swagger

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📂 Standard Enterprise Directory Structure

Exon CLI generates a clean, scalable folder structure designed for mid-to-large-scale software architectures.

my-api/
├── src/
│   ├── controllers/      # Handles incoming HTTP requests and response logic
│   ├── routes/           # Routing layers (e.g., users, status, docs)
│   ├── middleware/       # Express middlewares (auth, validation, error handler)
│   ├── db/               # Database client instantiation and schema configurations
│   ├── models/           # Mongoose schemas / Prisma models / Drizzle definitions
│   ├── utils/            # Shared utilities (apiError, apiResponse, asyncHandler)
│   ├── socket/           # Socket.IO connection and event namespaces
│   ├── app.ts            # Core Express app construction and service bindings
│   └── index.ts          # Server listener initialization
├── .env                  # Environment configuration variables
├── Dockerfile            # Container deployment specification
├── docker-compose.yml    # Multi-container local execution setup
├── exon.config.json      # CLI project state configuration
└── tsconfig.json         # Strict TypeScript compiler options

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⚡ Quick Start Guide

1. Generate Your Express API

Bootstrap a TypeScript application with Prisma ORM and Docker:

npx exon-cli create my-cool-app --ts --prisma --docker

2. Startup your server

cd my-cool-app

# Start the local development server with live reload:
npm run dev

3. Open Interactive API Documentation

Visit the following link in your browser to view your auto-generated API routes and test them:

http://localhost:3802/docs

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🛡️ Centralized Configuration (exon.config.json)

To enable seamless add/remove plugin mechanics, Exon stores the current scaffolding options inside a lightweight state file at the root of your project:

{
  "language": "TypeScript",
  "database": "PRISMA",
  "plugins": [
    "docker",
    "prisma",
    "logger",
    "swagger",
    "socket"
  ]
}

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🤝 Contributing & Support

We are excited about making backend development in Node.js faster for everyone! If you want to contribute plugins, templates, or improvements:

1. Star our Repository: Show some love on GitHub ⭐
2. Report Issues: Found a bug? Open an issue.
3. Submit PRs: We welcome pull requests for adding database templates, auth plugins, or CLI optimizations.

# Install CLI locally for development
git clone https://github.com/arpitbhatia23/exon.git
cd exon
npm install
npm run build

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🔍 SEO Search Keywords & Target Audience

Exon CLI is built for developers looking for:

• Express generator ts / TypeScript Express generator
• Express project generator CLI
• Create-express-app template
• Express boilerplate with Swagger and Prisma
• Node.js Express backend builder
• Fastify / Express CLI scaffolders

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Made with ⚡ by Arpit Bhatia and the Exon Community.