🚀 Package Installer CLI: Modern Web App Scaffolding Made Easy

Introduction

Modern web development is fast-paced, but setting up a new project can still be tedious and error-prone. Developers often spend hours configuring frameworks, languages, UI libraries, databases, and ORMs before writing a single line of business logic. Package Installer CLI solves this by providing a beautiful, interactive, and highly flexible CLI that scaffolds production-ready projects in minutes.

Motivation

Why another CLI? Most existing tools are either framework-specific or lack flexibility for full-stack, multi-language, or database-driven setups. Package Installer CLI is designed for:

Polyglot teams: Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, Rust, and more
Full-stack development: Easily combine frontend and backend templates
Rapid prototyping: Get started with best practices and modern tooling
Customization: Choose exactly what you need—UI libraries, bundlers, src structure, Tailwind CSS, database, ORM, etc.

✨ Key Features

Interactive CLI with beautiful UI and strict prompt order
Argument-based project name (supports pi my-app or pi . for current directory)
Framework, language, and UI library selection
Dynamic database & ORM selection (ORMs shown are specific to the selected database)
Automatic dependency installation (pnpm or npm)
Cross-platform path handling
Graceful exit and error messaging
Combination templates for full-stack setups
Extensible via template.json

🆕 What's New: Database-Specific ORM Selection

The latest release introduces database-specific ORM selection. When you choose a database (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB), the CLI only shows ORMs compatible with that database, as defined in template.json. This prevents mismatches and streamlines setup.

Installation

Install globally via npm:

npm install -g package-installer-cli

CLI Walkthrough

1. Start the CLI

pi my-app
# or
package-installer my-app

2. Interactive Prompts

You'll be guided through a series of questions:

Project name: Use argument or prompt
Framework: React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, Express, Rust, etc.
Language: TypeScript, JavaScript, Rust
UI library: Shadcn, Material UI, etc. (if available)
Bundler: Vite, Webpack, etc. (framework-specific)
Src directory: Choose if you want a src/ structure
Tailwind CSS: Add Tailwind for modern styling
Database: Select from supported databases
ORM: Only ORMs compatible with your database are shown

3. Project Creation & Dependency Installation

The CLI copies the selected template, installs dependencies (pnpm or npm), and provides next steps.

4. Success Message & Next Steps

You'll see a styled summary with commands to start development, build, and more.

Advanced Features

Combination Templates: Scaffold full-stack projects with pre-configured frontend and backend
Rust Support: Build modern Rust apps with basic or advanced templates
Graceful Exit: Beautiful goodbye and error messages
Auto-detection: Installs dependencies using the best available package manager

Template Configuration: `template.json`

The CLI is powered by a flexible template.json file. Here’s a simplified example:

{
  "frameworks": {
    "nextjs": {
      "languages": ["typescript", "javascript"],
      "ui": ["shadcn", "material-ui"],
      "databases": {
        "postgresql": { "orms": ["prisma", "typeorm"] },
        "mongodb": { "orms": ["mongoose"] },
        "none": { "orms": [] }
      },
      "options": ["src", "tailwind"],
      "bundlers": ["vite", "webpack"]
    }
    // ... other frameworks ...
  }
}

You can easily add new frameworks, languages, databases, or ORMs by editing this file.

Real-World Use Cases

Startup MVP: Quickly scaffold a Next.js + PostgreSQL + Prisma app
Enterprise: Standardize project structure for teams
Hackathons: Save time on setup, focus on building
Learning: Explore different stacks and configurations

Troubleshooting & Tips

If a template is missing, check the templates/ directory and template.json
Use pi . to scaffold in the current directory
For Rust projects, ensure you have cargo installed
For full-stack templates, run frontend and backend in separate terminals
Check the generated README.md for framework-specific instructions

Roadmap & Future Plans

More frameworks: Svelte, SolidJS, Python/Django, etc.
Custom template creation: User-defined templates
Plugin system: Extend CLI with custom logic
Cloud integration: Deploy directly from CLI

Example Workflow

$ pi my-app
🚀 Choose a framework: Next.js
💻 Choose a language: TypeScript
🧩 Do you want to add a UI library? Yes
✨ Choose a UI library: Shadcn
📦 Choose a bundler: Vite  ( only for reactjs and reactjs combination templates )
📂 Do you want a src directory? Yes
🎨 Do you want to use Tailwind CSS? Yes
🗄️ Choose a database: PostgreSQL
🔧 Choose an ORM: Prisma

Conclusion

Package Installer CLI is the fastest way to start modern web projects with best practices, flexibility, and beautiful developer experience. Whether you’re building a startup MVP, a full-stack enterprise app, or just learning, this CLI will save you time and help you focus on what matters—building great software.

Ready to build your next modern web app? Try Package Installer CLI today!

Introducing Package Installer CLI: Modern Web App Scaffolding Made Easy