create-bend

!Node.js Version
!Bun Version

Official initializer for Bend - Create production-ready backend projects with enterprise security and logging in seconds.

Quick Start

$3

``bash
npm create bend@latest
`

$3

`bash
npm create bend@latest my-backend
`

$3

`bash

pnpm

pnpm create bend

yarn

yarn create bend

bun

bunx create-bend
`

What You Get

Every project includes:

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- ✅ helmet() - Security HTTP headers
- ✅ cors() - Cross-origin resource sharing
- ✅ rateLimit() - DDoS protection (100 req/15min)
- ✅ hpp() - HTTP parameter pollution prevention
- ✅ compression() - Response compression
- ✅ Body limits - Memory exhaustion prevention

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- ✅ Winston - Enterprise-grade logging
- ✅ Daily rotation - 30-day retention, 20MB max size
- ✅ Structured logs - JSON format (error, combined, exceptions)
- ✅ HTTP logging - Morgan middleware integration
- ✅ Production-ready - Compatible with DataDog, Splunk, ELK

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- ✅ Async error handling - No try/catch needed
- ✅ Centralized errors - Single error middleware
- ✅ Graceful shutdown - Proper cleanup on exit
- ✅ Unhandled rejections - No silent crashes

Stack Options

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- Runtimes: Node.js or Bun (auto-detected)
- Languages: TypeScript or JavaScript
- Frameworks: Express or Fastify
- ORMs: Mongoose (MongoDB) or Prisma (SQL)

Total: 8 template combinations - All fully tested and production-ready.

How It Works

create-bend is a lightweight initializer that:

1. Detects your runtime (Node.js or Bun)
2. Detects your package manager (npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun)
3. Downloads bend-core
4. Runs the interactive setup
5. Generates your project

No installation required - Everything works via npm create.

Interactive Setup

Running npm create bend starts an interactive CLI:

`
? Project name: my-backend
? Select a language: TypeScript
? Select a framework: Express
? Select an ORM: Mongoose
? Install dependencies? Yes

✓ Project created at ./my-backend
✓ Dependencies installed
✓ Ready to start!

cd my-backend
npm run dev
`

Generated Project

`
my-backend/
├── src/
│ ├── config/
│ │ ├── database.ts # DB connection
│ │ └── logger.ts # Winston config
│ ├── controllers/ # Route controllers
│ ├── models/ # Database models
│ │ └── User.model.ts # Example model
│ ├── routes/ # API routes
│ │ └── health.routes.ts
│ ├── services/ # Business logic
│ ├── middlewares/ # Custom middlewares
│ ├── utils/ # Utilities
│ ├── app.ts # App + security
│ └── server.ts # Entry point
├── logs/ # Auto-generated
├── .env # Environment vars
├── .gitignore
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json # (if TypeScript)
└── README.md
`

Example: What Your API Includes

`typescript
// app.ts - Already configured for you!

import helmet from 'helmet';
import cors from 'cors';
import rateLimit from 'express-rate-limit';
import hpp from 'hpp';

const app = express();

// Security
app.use(helmet());
app.use(cors());
app.use(hpp());

// Rate limiting
const limiter = rateLimit({
windowMs: 15 60 1000,
max: 100,
});
app.use('/api/', limiter);

// ... and more!
`

Environment Variables

Configure via .env:

`bash

Server

PORT=3000
NODE_ENV=development

Database (MongoDB)

MONGODB_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/myapp

Database (Prisma - PostgreSQL)

DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/mydb"

Security

CORS_ORIGIN=https://yourdomain.com

Logging

LOG_LEVEL=info
`

Commands

Run these in your generated project:

`bash

Development

npm run dev # Start with auto-reload
npm start # Production mode

Build (TypeScript)

npm run build # Compile to dist/

Linting

npm run lint # Check code quality
npm run lint:fix # Auto-fix issues

Formatting

npm run format # Format code
`

Package Comparison

Bend offers three packages for different use cases:

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Best for: End users creating new projects

`bash
npm create bend@latest
`

What it does: Lightweight initializer that downloads and runs bend-core

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Best for: Direct usage or programmatic access

`bash
npx bend-core
`

What it does: Core library with all templates and scaffolding logic

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Best for: Users who prefer global installation

`bash
npm install -g bendjs
bend
`

What it does: Global CLI wrapper around bend-core

Why create-bend?

- Zero installation: Works via npm create
- Always latest: Downloads current version of bend-core
- Standard pattern: Follows npm init/create conventions
- Package manager friendly: Works with npm, pnpm, yarn, bun

FAQ

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No! Use npm create bend to run it directly without installation.

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create-bend is a thin wrapper that downloads and runs bend-core. Use create-bend via npm create bend.

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Yes! Bend fully supports Bun runtime. Use bunx create-bend`.

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Yes, after generation. All code is yours to modify. No vendor lock-in.

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Absolutely! All templates include:
- Security middlewares (helmet, cors, rate-limit, hpp)
- Enterprise logging (Winston with daily rotation)
- Error handling (async errors, centralized middleware)
- Best practices (TypeScript strict mode, ESLint, Prettier)

Links

- Main Project: https://github.com/bendhq/bend
- npm (create-bend): https://www.npmjs.com/package/create-bend
- npm (bend-core): https://www.npmjs.com/package/bend-core
- npm (bendjs): https://www.npmjs.com/package/bendjs
- Website: https://bendhq.org
- Documentation: https://bendhq.org/docs
- Issues: https://github.com/bendhq/bend/issues

License

MIT © Bend

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Part of Bend - Production-ready backends in seconds.