Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is Better‑T‑Stack?

An opinionated CLI that scaffolds full‑stack TypeScript projects (frontend, backend, API, DB/ORM, auth, addons) with a clean monorepo. See the Quick Start on the docs home.

Do I need to install anything globally?

No. Run the CLI directly with your package manager. See Quick Start and the per‑command pages under CLI.

Which package manager can I use?

npm, pnpm, or bun (all supported).

What Node.js version is required?

Node.js 20+ (LTS recommended).

Can I use this with an existing project?

The CLI is for new projects. You can migrate gradually or use add to extend a Better‑T‑Stack project.

Where do generated files live?

See Project Structure for high‑level layouts (server‑based vs. Convex, optional web/native).

Choosing options

Does the CLI recommend a stack?

No. Pick what fits your needs. The CLI validates compatibility. See CLI (per command) and Compatibility for rules.

I’m unsure between tRPC and oRPC / Drizzle and Prisma

See Compatibility for guidance and constraints. Both pairs work well; choose based on team and hosting needs.

Common issues

My mobile app can’t connect to the backend (Expo)

Set EXPO_PUBLIC_SERVER_URL in apps/native/.env to your machine IP (not localhost), check firewall, or try npx expo start --tunnel.

How do I disable telemetry?

Set BTS_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1 (shell env). For one run, prefix the command; to make it permanent, export it in your shell profile.

Getting help

• Docs: Quick Start, CLI, Project Structure, Compatibility
• Ask/Report: GitHub Issues & Discussions
• Community: Discord