Getting Started

Create a VitNode app, start Postgres, run the dev server, and sign in to the AdminCP as your first administrator.

Get up and running with a complete VitNode application in under 5 minutes.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 22+ (Node 24 recommended)
  • Package manager: pnpm, bun, or npm
  • PostgreSQL 15+ (or Docker to run the included compose file)

Create and Run Your Application

1. Scaffold the Project

Create VitNode app
bun create vitnode-app@canary
pnpm create vitnode-app@canary
npx create-vitnode-app@canary

Select your preferred template when prompted:

  • Single App: Unified TanStack Start application with Hono API mounted at /api (Recommended).
  • Monorepo App: Turborepo setup separating apps/web and apps/api.
  • Only API: Standalone Hono REST/RPC server.

2. Start PostgreSQL with Docker

If you chose Docker during scaffolding, start Postgres and Redis in one command:

Start database
bun run docker:dev
pnpm docker:dev
npm run docker:dev

3. Run Migrations and Seed Initial Admin

Migrate and seed
bun run db:migrate
pnpm db:migrate
npm run db:migrate

This creates all core schema tables and prompts you to configure your initial administrator account.

4. Start the Development Server

Start dev server
bun dev
pnpm dev
npm run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 to view your live application.

5. Sign In to the AdminCP

Visit http://localhost:3000/admin and sign in with the admin credentials created during migration.

Next Steps