ts-package-init

A fast, minimal TypeScript CLI project initializer for Node.js.

Create modern TypeScript projects with sensible defaults in seconds — without framework bloat or unnecessary boilerplate.

Why

Many TypeScript starter templates are:

• Over-engineered
• Framework-heavy
• Bloated with configuration
• Hard to customize

ts-package-init is a lightweight TypeScript CLI tool that scaffolds clean Node.js projects with practical defaults.

Start fast. Stay minimal. Scale when needed.

✨ Features

• Zero-config TypeScript setup
• Presets: base, library, backend, cli, monorepo, nestjs, moleculer
• CommonJS or ESM (--esm)
• Optional ESLint & Prettier
• Optional interactive mode (--interactive)
• Package manager selection (--package-manager)
• Uses tsx for fast dev experience
• Works with Node.js 18+

🚀 Usage

Quick start

npx ts-package-init my-app
cd my-app
npm run dev

Using npm init

npm init ts-package my-app

Expected output (file tree)

Minimal structure shown. Additional files are added based on flags.

Base (default)

my-app/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts

Library

my-lib/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts

Backend

api/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts

CLI

my-cli/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts

Monorepo

my-workspace/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  packages/
    app/
      package.json
      tsconfig.json
      src/
        index.ts

NestJS

my-nest/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts
    main.ts
    app.module.ts
    app.controller.ts
    app.service.ts

Moleculer

my-broker/
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  src/
    index.ts
    moleculer.config.ts
    services/
      greeter.service.ts

Optional files and changes

• --eslint: adds eslint.config.js.
• --prettier: adds eslint.config.js (with Prettier) and .prettierrc.json.
• --git: adds .git/.
• --esm: updates package.json and tsconfig.json (no new files).
• --skip-install / --package-manager: no file tree changes.

📦 Presets

Base (default)

Minimal runnable TypeScript project.

npx ts-package-init my-app

Scripts:

{
  "build": "tsc",
  "dev": "tsx watch src/index.ts"
}

Library

For reusable npm packages.

npx ts-package-init my-lib --preset library

Includes:

• type declarations
• clean build output

Backend

For APIs, workers, and services.

npx ts-package-init api --preset backend

Includes:

• dev, build, start scripts
• long-running process defaults

CLI

For command-line tools.

npx ts-package-init my-cli --preset cli

Includes:

• executable binary
• Node shebang support

Monorepo

For npm workspaces with a minimal app package.

npx ts-package-init my-workspace --preset monorepo

Includes:

• root workspaces config
• packages/app with build/dev scripts

NestJS

Minimal NestJS app scaffold (controller, service, module, main).

npx ts-package-init my-nest --preset nestjs

Includes:

• App controller + service
• Module + main bootstrap
• build/dev/start scripts

Moleculer

Minimal Moleculer broker scaffold (config + sample service).

npx ts-package-init my-broker --preset moleculer

Includes:

• Broker config
• Sample service
• build/dev/start scripts

📘 ESM Support

Enable ESM with:

npx ts-package-init my-app --esm

This will:

• set "type": "module"
• adjust TypeScript config automatically

🧹 ESLint & Prettier (optional)

npx ts-package-init my-app --eslint
npx ts-package-init my-app --prettier

Prettier automatically enables ESLint integration.

⚙️ Additional flags

npx ts-package-init my-app --interactive
npx ts-package-init my-app --skip-install
npx ts-package-init my-app --package-manager pnpm
npx ts-package-init my-app --git

🧪 Examples

npx ts-package-init demo
npx ts-package-init my-lib --preset library --esm
npx ts-package-init api --preset backend --eslint --prettier
npx ts-package-init tool --preset cli
npx ts-package-init my-workspace --preset monorepo --skip-install
npx ts-package-init my-nest --preset nestjs --package-manager pnpm
npx ts-package-init my-broker --preset moleculer --interactive

🚢 Release

npm run build
npm pack --dry-run
npm publish

📄 License

MIT

Support

If this package helps you, please consider supporting it:

⭐ Star the repository
☕ Support the project: https://buymeacoffee.com/mostafahanafy