Scaffold
Project scaffolding templates and boilerplate generation for common project types with best-practice defaults.
Project Type Decision Tree
What are you building?
│
├─ API / Backend Service
│ ├─ REST API
│ │ ├─ Python → FastAPI (async, OpenAPI auto-docs)
│ │ ├─ Node.js → Express or Fastify (Fastify for performance)
│ │ ├─ Go → Gin (ergonomic) or Echo (middleware-rich)
│ │ └─ Rust → Axum (tower ecosystem, async-first)
│ ├─ GraphQL API
│ │ ├─ Python → Strawberry + FastAPI
│ │ ├─ Node.js → Apollo Server or Pothos + Yoga
│ │ ├─ Go → gqlgen (code-first)
│ │ └─ Rust → async-graphql + Axum
│ └─ gRPC Service
│ ├─ Python → grpcio + protobuf
│ ├─ Go → google.golang.org/grpc
│ └─ Rust → tonic
│
├─ Web Application
│ ├─ Full-stack with SSR
│ │ ├─ React ecosystem → Next.js 14+ (App Router)
│ │ ├─ Vue ecosystem → Nuxt 3
│ │ ├─ Svelte ecosystem → SvelteKit
│ │ └─ Content-heavy / multi-framework → Astro
│ ├─ SPA (client-only)
│ │ ├─ React → Vite + React + React Router
│ │ ├─ Vue → Vite + Vue + Vue Router
│ │ └─ Svelte → Vite + Svelte + svelte-routing
│ └─ Static Site
│ ├─ Blog / docs → Astro or VitePress
│ └─ Marketing / landing → Astro or Next.js (static export)
│
├─ CLI Tool
│ ├─ Python → Typer (simple) or Click (complex)
│ ├─ Node.js → Commander + Inquirer
│ ├─ Go → Cobra + Viper
│ └─ Rust → Clap (derive API)
│
├─ Library / Package
│ ├─ npm package → TypeScript + tsup + Vitest
│ ├─ PyPI package → uv + pyproject.toml + pytest
│ ├─ Go module → go mod init + go test
│ └─ Rust crate → cargo init --lib + cargo test
│
└─ Monorepo
├─ JavaScript/TypeScript → Turborepo + pnpm workspaces
├─ Full-stack JS → Nx
├─ Go → Go workspaces (go.work)
├─ Rust → Cargo workspaces
└─ Python → uv workspaces or hatch
Stack Selection Matrix
| Project Type | Language | Framework | Database | ORM/Query | Deploy Target |
|---|
| REST API | Python | FastAPI | PostgreSQL | SQLAlchemy + Alembic | Docker / AWS ECS |
| REST API | Node.js | Fastify | PostgreSQL | Prisma or Drizzle | Docker / Vercel |
| REST API | Go | Gin | PostgreSQL | sqlx (raw) or GORM | Docker / Fly.io |
| REST API | Rust | Axum | PostgreSQL | sqlx | Docker / Fly.io |
| Web App | TypeScript | Next.js 14+ | PostgreSQL | Prisma or Drizzle | Vercel / Docker |
| Web App | TypeScript | Nuxt 3 | PostgreSQL | Prisma | Vercel / Netlify |
| Web App | TypeScript | Astro | SQLite / none | Drizzle | Cloudflare / Netlify |
| CLI Tool | Python | Typer | SQLite | sqlite3 stdlib | PyPI |
| CLI Tool | Go | Cobra | SQLite / BoltDB | sqlx | GitHub Releases |
| CLI Tool | Rust | Clap | SQLite | rusqlite | crates.io |
| Library | TypeScript | tsup | n/a | n/a | npm |
| Library | Python | hatch/uv | n/a | n/a | PyPI |
Quick Scaffold Commands
Python (API)
mkdir my-api && cd my-api
uv init --python 3.12
uv add fastapi uvicorn sqlalchemy alembic psycopg2-binary pydantic-settings
uv add --dev pytest pytest-asyncio httpx ruff mypy
Node.js (Web App)
npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript --tailwind --eslint --app --src-dir --import-alias "@/*"
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts
Go (API)
mkdir my-api && cd my-api
go mod init github.com/user/my-api
go get github.com/gin-gonic/gin
go get github.com/jmoiron/sqlx
go get github.com/lib/pq
Rust (CLI)
cargo init my-cli
cd my-cli
cargo add clap --features derive
cargo add serde --features derive
cargo add anyhow tokio --features tokio/full
Monorepo (Turborepo)
npx create-turbo@latest my-monorepo
mkdir my-monorepo && cd my-monorepo
npm init -y
npm install turbo --save-dev
mkdir -p apps/web apps/api packages/shared
API Project Template
Directory Structure (FastAPI Example)
my-api/
├── src/
│ └── my_api/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── main.py # FastAPI app, lifespan, middleware
│ ├── config.py # pydantic-settings configuration
│ ├── database.py # SQLAlchemy engine, session
│ ├── dependencies.py # Shared FastAPI dependencies
│ ├── routers/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ ├── health.py # Health check endpoint
│ │ └── users.py # User CRUD endpoints
│ ├── models/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ └── user.py # SQLAlchemy models
│ ├── schemas/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ └── user.py # Pydantic request/response schemas
│ └── services/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ └── user.py # Business logic
├── alembic/
│ ├── alembic.ini
│ ├── env.py
│ └── versions/
├── tests/
│ ├── conftest.py # Fixtures: test DB, client, factories
│ ├── test_health.py
│ └── test_users.py
├── pyproject.toml
├── Dockerfile
├── docker-compose.yml
├── .env.example
├── .gitignore
└── .dockerignore
Directory Structure (Express/Fastify Example)
my-api/
├── src/
│ ├── index.ts # Entry point, server startup
│ ├── app.ts # Express/Fastify app setup
│ ├── config.ts # Environment config with zod validation
│ ├── database.ts # Prisma client or Drizzle config
│ ├── middleware/
│ │ ├── auth.ts
│ │ ├── error-handler.ts
│ │ └── request-logger.ts
│ ├── routes/
│ │ ├── health.ts
│ │ └── users.ts
│ ├── services/
│ │ └── user.service.ts
│ └── types/
│ └── index.ts
├── prisma/
│ └── schema.prisma
├── tests/
│ ├── setup.ts
│ └── routes/
│ └── users.test.ts
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
├── Dockerfile
├── docker-compose.yml
├── .env.example
└── .gitignore
Web App Project Template
Directory Structure (Next.js App Router)
my-app/
├── src/
│ ├── app/
│ │ ├── layout.tsx # Root layout
│ │ ├── page.tsx # Home page
│ │ ├── loading.tsx # Global loading UI
│ │ ├── error.tsx # Global error boundary
│ │ ├── not-found.tsx # 404 page
│ │ ├── globals.css # Global styles + Tailwind
│ │ ├── (auth)/
│ │ │ ├── login/page.tsx
│ │ │ └── register/page.tsx
│ │ ├── dashboard/
│ │ │ ├── layout.tsx
│ │ │ └── page.tsx
│ │ └── api/
│ │ └── health/route.ts
│ ├── components/
│ │ ├── ui/ # Reusable primitives
│ │ └── features/ # Feature-specific components
│ ├── lib/
│ │ ├── db.ts # Database client
│ │ ├── auth.ts # Auth helpers
│ │ └── utils.ts # Shared utilities
│ └── types/
│ └── index.ts
├── public/
│ └── favicon.ico
├── tests/
│ ├── setup.ts
│ └── components/
├── next.config.ts
├── tailwind.config.ts
├── tsconfig.json
├── package.json
├── .env.local.example
└── .gitignore
CLI Tool Project Template
Directory Structure (Python / Typer)
my-cli/
├── src/
│ └── my_cli/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── __main__.py # python -m my_cli entry
│ ├── cli.py # Typer app, command groups
│ ├── commands/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ ├── init.py # my-cli init
│ │ └── run.py # my-cli run
│ ├── config.py # Config file loading (TOML/YAML)
│ └── utils.py
├── tests/
│ ├── conftest.py
│ └── test_commands.py
├── pyproject.toml # [project.scripts] entry point
├── .gitignore
└── README.md
Directory Structure (Go / Cobra)
my-cli/
├── cmd/
│ ├── root.go # Root command, global flags
│ ├── init.go # my-cli init
│ └── run.go # my-cli run
├── internal/
│ ├── config/
│ │ └── config.go # Viper config loading
│ └── runner/
│ └── runner.go # Core logic
├── main.go # Entry point, calls cmd.Execute()
├── go.mod
├── go.sum
├── Makefile
└── .gitignore
Library Project Template
Directory Structure (npm Package)
my-lib/
├── src/
│ ├── index.ts # Public API exports
│ ├── core.ts # Core implementation
│ └── types.ts # Public type definitions
├── tests/
│ └── core.test.ts
├── package.json # "type": "module", exports map
├── tsconfig.json # declaration: true, declarationMap: true
├── tsup.config.ts # Build config: cjs + esm
├── vitest.config.ts
├── .npmignore
├── .gitignore
├── CHANGELOG.md
└── LICENSE
Directory Structure (PyPI Package)
my-lib/
├── src/
│ └── my_lib/
│ ├── __init__.py # Public API, __version__
│ ├── core.py
│ └── py.typed # PEP 561 marker
├── tests/
│ ├── conftest.py
│ └── test_core.py
├── pyproject.toml # Build system, metadata, tool config
├── .gitignore
├── CHANGELOG.md
└── LICENSE
Monorepo Template
Turborepo + pnpm Workspaces
my-monorepo/
├── apps/
│ ├── web/ # Next.js frontend
│ │ ├── src/
│ │ ├── package.json # depends on @repo/shared
│ │ └── tsconfig.json # extends ../../tsconfig.base.json
│ └── api/ # Fastify backend
│ ├── src/
│ ├── package.json
│ └── tsconfig.json
├── packages/
│ ├── shared/ # Shared types, utils, validators
│ │ ├── src/
│ │ ├── package.json # "name": "@repo/shared"
│ │ └── tsconfig.json
│ ├── ui/ # Shared React components
│ │ ├── src/
│ │ └── package.json # "name": "@repo/ui"
│ └── config/ # Shared configs
│ ├── eslint/
│ ├── typescript/
│ └── package.json
├── turbo.json # Pipeline: build, test, lint
├── pnpm-workspace.yaml # packages: ["apps/*", "packages/*"]
├── package.json # Root devDeps: turbo
├── tsconfig.base.json # Shared TypeScript config
├── .gitignore
└── .npmrc
Cargo Workspaces (Rust)
my-workspace/
├── crates/
│ ├── my-core/ # Core library
│ │ ├── src/lib.rs
│ │ └── Cargo.toml
│ ├── my-cli/ # CLI binary
│ │ ├── src/main.rs
│ │ └── Cargo.toml # depends on my-core
│ └── my-server/ # API binary
│ ├── src/main.rs
│ └── Cargo.toml
├── Cargo.toml # [workspace] members = ["crates/*"]
├── Cargo.lock
├── .gitignore
└── rust-toolchain.toml
Common Additions Checklist
Project setup complete? Add these:
│
├─ Version Control
│ ├─ [ ] .gitignore (language-specific)
│ ├─ [ ] .gitattributes (line endings, binary files)
│ └─ [ ] Branch protection rules
│
├─ CI/CD
│ ├─ [ ] GitHub Actions workflow (test on PR, deploy on merge)
│ ├─ [ ] Matrix testing (OS, runtime versions)
│ └─ [ ] Release automation
│
├─ Docker
│ ├─ [ ] Multi-stage Dockerfile
│ ├─ [ ] docker-compose.yml (app + database + cache)
│ ├─ [ ] .dockerignore
│ └─ [ ] Health check endpoint
│
├─ Code Quality
│ ├─ [ ] Linter (ESLint, Ruff, golangci-lint, Clippy)
│ ├─ [ ] Formatter (Prettier, Black/Ruff, gofmt, rustfmt)
│ ├─ [ ] Pre-commit hooks (Husky, pre-commit)
│ └─ [ ] Type checking (TypeScript strict, mypy, go vet)
│
├─ Testing
│ ├─ [ ] Test framework configured (Vitest, pytest, go test)
│ ├─ [ ] Coverage reporting
│ ├─ [ ] Test database setup
│ └─ [ ] CI test pipeline
│
├─ Editor
│ ├─ [ ] .editorconfig
│ ├─ [ ] .vscode/settings.json
│ └─ [ ] .vscode/extensions.json
│
└─ Documentation
├─ [ ] README.md (project description, setup, usage)
├─ [ ] CONTRIBUTING.md
└─ [ ] API documentation (OpenAPI, godoc, rustdoc)
Configuration File Templates
.editorconfig (Universal)
root = true
[*]
indent_style = space
indent_size = 2
end_of_line = lf
charset = utf-8
trim_trailing_whitespace = true
insert_final_newline = true
[*.{py,rs}]
indent_size = 4
[*.go]
indent_style = tab
[*.md]
trim_trailing_whitespace = false
[Makefile]
indent_style = tab
pyproject.toml (Python)
[project]
name = "my-project"
version = "0.1.0"
requires-python = ">=3.12"
[tool.ruff]
target-version = "py312"
line-length = 88
[tool.ruff.lint]
select = ["E", "F", "I", "UP", "B", "SIM"]
[tool.pytest.ini_options]
testpaths = ["tests"]
asyncio_mode = "auto"
[tool.mypy]
strict = true
tsconfig.json (TypeScript - Strict)
{
"compilerOptions": {
"target": "ES2022",
"module": "NodeNext",
"moduleResolution": "NodeNext",
"strict": true,
"esModuleInterop": true,
"skipLibCheck": true,
"forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
"resolveJsonModule": true,
"declaration": true,
"declarationMap": true,
"sourceMap": true,
"outDir": "./dist",
"rootDir": "./src"
},
"include": ["src"],
"exclude": ["node_modules", "dist"]
}
Common Gotchas
| Gotcha | Why It Happens | Prevention |
|---|
| Wrong .gitignore for language | Used generic template, missing language-specific entries | Use gitignore.io or GitHub's templates for your stack |
| Forgot .env.example | Team members don't know which env vars are needed | Create .env.example with every var (empty values) at project start |
| No lockfile committed | Inconsistent dependency versions across environments | Commit package-lock.json, uv.lock, go.sum, Cargo.lock |
| Hardcoded port/host in code | Works locally, breaks in Docker/cloud | Always read from env var with sensible default |
| Tests coupled to real database | Tests fail without running DB, CI setup is complex | Use test containers or in-memory SQLite for unit tests |
| Missing health check endpoint | Deployment orchestrator cannot verify readiness | Add /health endpoint that checks DB connectivity |
| No multi-stage Docker build | Image is 2GB instead of 200MB | Use builder stage for deps/compile, slim runtime stage |
| Mixing tabs and spaces | .editorconfig missing, editor defaults vary | Add .editorconfig to every project root |
| No .dockerignore | Docker context sends node_modules/venv, build takes minutes | Mirror .gitignore entries plus .git directory |
| Monorepo without workspace protocol | Packages resolve from registry instead of local | Use workspace:* (pnpm) or path deps (Cargo, Go) |
| TypeScript paths not in tsconfig | Module aliases work in dev but fail at build time | Configure paths in tsconfig AND build tool (tsup, vite) |
Reference Files
| File | Contents | Lines |
|---|
references/api-templates.md | Complete API scaffolds: FastAPI, Express/Fastify, Gin, Axum with full file content | ~700 |
references/frontend-templates.md | Web app scaffolds: Next.js, Nuxt 3, Astro, SvelteKit, Vite+React with config | ~650 |
references/tooling-templates.md | CI/CD, Docker, linting, testing, pre-commit, editor config, git templates | ~550 |
See Also
| Skill | When to Combine |
|---|
docker-ops | Container configuration, multi-stage builds, compose orchestration |
ci-cd-ops | GitHub Actions workflows, deployment pipelines, release automation |
testing-ops | Test framework setup, coverage configuration, CI test integration |
python-env | Python virtual environments, dependency management with uv |
typescript-ops | TypeScript configuration, strict mode, module resolution |