Better-T-Stack offers multiple backend framework options, each optimized for different use cases and runtime environments.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/amanvarshney01/create-better-t-stack/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Backend Frameworks
Hono
Lightweight, ultrafast web framework.Runtime Support:
- Bun
- Node.js
- Cloudflare Workers
- Edge deployments
- High-performance APIs
- Lightweight services
Express
Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for Node.js.Runtime Support:
- Node.js
- Bun (compatibility mode)
- Traditional Node.js apps
- Teams with Express experience
- Extensive middleware ecosystem
Fastify
Fast, low-overhead web framework for Node.js.Runtime Support:
- Node.js
- Bun (compatibility mode)
- Performance-critical APIs
- Schema-based validation
- Plugin architecture
Elysia
Ergonomic web framework for building backend servers.Runtime Support:
- Bun (primary)
- Bun-first projects
- Type-safe APIs
- Modern TypeScript
Special Backend Modes
Self (Fullstack Mode)
Self (Fullstack Mode)
Use your frontend framework’s built-in API routes instead of a separate backend.Available For:
- Next.js (App Router API routes)
- TanStack Start (Server functions)
- Nuxt (Server routes)
- Astro (API endpoints)
- No separate backend package
- Frontend handles API routes
- Simplified monorepo structure
- Shared type definitions
- Simpler project structure
- Full-stack frameworks
- Teams preferring unified codebase
- Your frontend supports server-side features
- You don’t need a separate API server
- You want to deploy as a single unit
Convex
Convex
Reactive backend-as-a-service platform.What’s Included:
- Real-time database
- Server functions
- Authentication integration
- File storage
- Automatic API generation
- TanStack Router
- React Router
- TanStack Start
- Next.js
- Nuxt
- Svelte
- React Native (all variants)
- Solid
- Astro
- Real-time applications
- Rapid prototyping
- Serverless architecture
- Teams wanting managed backend
templates/backend/convex/None
None
No backend server.Use Cases:
- Static websites
- Frontend-only applications
- JAMstack architecture
- Using external APIs only
- No backend package created
- No database setup
- No authentication (unless using Clerk)
- Frontend-only monorepo
Server Framework Details
All server frameworks (Hono, Express, Fastify, Elysia) include:- Base Setup
- Hono
- Express
- Fastify
- Elysia
- TypeScript configuration
- tsdown for bundling
- Development and production scripts
- CORS configuration
- Environment variables support
templates/backend/server/base/Runtime Compatibility Matrix
| Backend | Bun | Node.js | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hono | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Express | ⚠️ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Fastify | ⚠️ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Elysia | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Convex | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Self | Depends on frontend | Depends on frontend | Depends on frontend |
⚠️ = Works in compatibility mode but not optimized
Choosing Your Backend
Evaluate Your Needs
- Performance: Hono, Fastify, Elysia
- Ecosystem: Express
- Type Safety: Elysia, Hono
- Simplicity: Self mode
- Real-time: Convex
Advanced Configuration
Adding Database Support
Adding Database Support
When you select a database, the appropriate ORM and connection setup is automatically configured for your backend framework.See Database Options for details.
Adding Authentication
Adding Authentication
Better-Auth or Clerk can be integrated with any backend framework (except
none).See Auth Options for details.API Layer
API Layer
Add tRPC or oRPC for type-safe API communication between frontend and backend.The CLI will configure the API layer based on your selections.
Next Steps
Database Setup
Configure your database and ORM
Authentication
Add user authentication